Your son or daughter has just come to you, their face set and serious, with a big announcement. They have decided on their career choice, and they hope you’re as happy about it as they are. The possibilities dance through your mind: doctor, CEO, professor. “No,” your child intercedes, “none of those. I’m going to be a professional video game player.” How should you react as a parent?
THE FIRST FEW MINUTES
Encouraging your child to live their dreams is probably a credo you have lived by since they wanted to be a dinosaur hunter at age 3, but now the rubber is meeting the road. This actually seems real. During those first crucial seconds after your kid’s big reveal, moderated honesty is your best bet. You can express that you’re a little surprised and concerned, that you may not have even known that there was such a career as a professional gamer and that you want to do some research in order to be as supportive as possible. If appropriate to your family culture, you can even end the conversation by saying you love your kid no matter what. Then leave the room as gracefully as possible, get online and do some digging.
THE BASICS
Indeed, people do make money competing in tournaments either as singles or on video game teams. Just as with professional athletics, a few of the luckiest and most talented players can make a living doing it. The most elite can even become quite wealthy. As with physical activities such as football or basketball, incessant practicing and honing of skills is a necessity for anyone who wants to elevate themselves to the highest levels. Focus, commitment and a willingness to practice and bounce back from failure are all essential. Therefore, if your child seems to embrace a different passion every other week, their chances of making it in this burgeoning e-sport are slim.
THE PATH TO A GAMING CAREER
A great way for your child to test the waters is to develop a mentor-mentee relationship with someone in gaming. As the industry grows in acceptance and popularity, support systems are also coming into being. One is the Find Your Grind Foundation, the brainchild of Los Angeles musician and entrepreneur Nick Gross. This Nick Gross mentorship program works specifically with young people who are interested in excelling in non-traditional careers such as e-sports.
Eventually, your kid will need to get career-related educational credentials as well as proficiency in their games of choice. To that end, they should search for schools that provide instruction in computer programming for applications and certification as well as programming for computer games.
STAY IN THE GAME
Your child will also need to constantly improve their skills as the games evolve. Joining a professional gaming organization and competing in tournaments on a regular basis will be key components in doing so. Because tournament and professional fees can add up over time, the reality is that your offspring will most likely need to find some sort of regular employment to finance their passion just as many aspiring actors, painters and musicians do.
Will your son or daughter make it to the top as a professional gamer? Only time will tell. But with the right mixture of support, good information and continuous hard work, they have a chance. Congratulations for being there to help them live out all of their dreams!