Posted by GC on January 14, 2002 at 12:43:22:
In Reply to: Professional Musicianship posted by Peter J. Felice on January 13, 2002 at 22:51:51:
Maybe I'm too literal, but here's the way I see it:
If you make the majority of your living from playing, writing, arranging, or otherwise directly dealing with musical performance, you are a professional musician. It doesn't mean that you are a great player, but if you have the gig you should be as good as you can be and should behave in a professional manner.
If you are part-time in these endeavors, no matter what your level of expertise, and if you get paid with any regularity, you are a semi-professional musician.
If you don't get paid for your playing (other maybe than an occasional rare pick-up gig), you are an amateur. Amateur does not mean not serious, though. You may be a better player than most professionals, and may have the full measure of professional dedication, reliability, and attitude. If so, more power to you, and we need more like you.