What percentage of live tournament players actually make money?

10% of the field makes the money in these. It seems like unless you have some high cashes, it isn't possible to win at these. If this is true, why do ppl bother playing live MTT?

Takes one big score and you're pretty much set. Plus there is also a lot of staking that goes on so ppl aren't always risking as much as you think to play in these higher buy-in live tournaments.

That being said, I'm sure there are a ton of ppl the are 'losers' in live tournament game.

Also consider that the glory is in winning these live MTT, primarily WSOP, WPT, EPT etc. Who doesn't want a bracelet or a title?

Yes, you need your share of high cashes preferably 1st/2nd/3rd, or chop of 1st often enough to overcome the dozens and dozens of times you'll finish out of the money or min-cash/near min-cashes. I don't know the answer to your question, but my guess is that the percentage of live tournament players that make money over the years is very small.

which of these things do you think are not true online?

Live games which I play are usually structured for top 10% pay out. Buys ins vary from $50 to $100. I make money from these games albeit not a huge amount but enough to justify playing. I enjoy the challenge and I am playing from profit so that is the reason I play.

I've only played live at a casino once, and the standard was pretty dire, lots of people limp/calling and chasing down bad hands. I didn't cash but got it in pf three way with AQ vs TT and 77 so I was happy with my exit. I'm quite confident that if I could afford to roll myself properly for live play I could run a profit, certainly at Brighton Casino at least! It seems a lot of people who play live do so for entertainment, not as an investment. I don't know if this is the norm for casino play or if I just found a soft casino.

Originally Posted by OngBonga

I've only played live at a casino once, and the standard was pretty dire, lots of people limp/calling and chasing down bad hands. I didn't cash but got it in pf three way with AQ vs TT and 77 so I was happy with my exit. I'm quite confident that if I could afford to roll myself properly for live play I could run a profit, certainly at Brighton Casino at least! It seems a lot of people who play live do so for entertainment, not as an investment. I don't know if this is the norm for casino play or if I just found a soft casino.

This is definitely the norm. It's the reason that you need to multiply the stakes of an online game by between 10x and 25x to find an equivalent tournament in live play (in terms of skill level of the average player). With players as bad as are in most live games, your edge tends to be pretty huge if you're competent.

It is a very good question.
I think most of the familiar names are sponsored, staked and mostly going for the title and fame, whilst they make most of their money from cash games or online.
The reports like to quote tournament winnings because it makes for more impressive marketing.

I would love to see a table of lifetime tournament winnings less all lifetime buyins, travel and accomodation costs.
It would be a much more interesting list, but it will never happen.

I've become something of a seasonal reg at the Borgata and I've gotten to know some of the kids who grind the circuit, and I also follow a ton of players on social media and of course peruse 2+2.

I'm envious of superior players' skill but this is not a lifestyle I would wish on my worst enemy.

Without naming names I can tell you there's a kid who had a couple of major scores in about an 8 month period (high 6 figures) and his life is pretty much in ruins. I just learned that someone else who had a couple of big cashes at the WPT Open in September only has 25% of himself. When you figure he probably fired multiple bullets in the big events, take out taxes and account for some super baller hookers/blow parties, well it's a nice payday but nothing amazing -- and not every month is going to be that good.

Live tournaments are going to be softer, a lot of people throw around comps like "Stars $3R in 2006." But the structures are generally terrible and I don't have to tell you the insane swings that happen in the sample of, say, 200 live tournaments a year as opposed to when you were grinding 3,000 a year online.

I started playing live tourneys this year. I really enjoy it.

The games I play are $40 BI at local Casino, have a real great structure. 4000 chips, 15 min blinds.
I find it to be an other challenge, you see the people you compete against, you fight - and at the end of a hand - you get recognition for your play - almost camaraderie. I min cashed a few times - at this point I am in loss position overall - but I do believe that it won't be long before I have enough experience / feel for the game to turn my live game into being profitable.