Klarinet Archive - Posting 000623.txt from 1998/02

From: garylsmith@-----.com (Gary L Smith)
Subj: Re: "Professional" vs. "amateur"
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 14:34:34 -0500

I think our hapless original questioner was less interested in an
interpretation of what words would mean in a perfect world where everyone
knew what you were talking about, and more interested in how you describe
yourself to people who are usually really trying to ask:

"So - can you play, or is my hiring you going to (retard my child's
progress/embarass me at my wedding reception/make me liable for damages
at the club when you crack the plaster)"

If the *dictionary* defination of the word meant anything to most people,
this would be an open-and-shut thing: a professional is one who does
something for money, as Bill Hausmann has pointed out, period.
*Competency,* on the other hand, is only determined (on the part of the
would-be customer) by references, auditions, or similar means. Where
practical, I often provide demo tapes to prospects, ostensibly to show
the style of music I play, but I know they're evaluating competence as
well.

>
>If some friend is better at it but only does it as a hobby, is he more
>professional? I think most people see the logic behind this analogy.
>Therefore, the Saxophone example above means nothing in terms of
>professional STATUS.

I can tell you which one I'd rather frame up my house.

>Labels may not be important to you...and your interpretation of them
>may
>be quite sound....but, in reality, it makes no difference...labels
>make a
>difference!

Yes, Roger, labels, and people who are big on applying them, have made a
difference throughout history. Can you think of a few historical
examples?

>Larry Combs is a professional musician (obviously)....but you can call
>him
>anything you like! If humility is part of a label.....let's rewrite
>the
>word professional!

Very well - let's.

"A professional is someone who is secure enough in his/her abilities and
satisfied enough with his/her career to not worry what labels are applied
to him/her by people who have enough time on their hands to worry about
it."

I don't know Mr. Combs personally, but I bet he fits this definition in
spades.