Re: Building a rackmount looping computer as an alternative to the Receptor for Mobius

[Travis Hartnett <travishartnett@gmail.com>]

In the world of musicians, the term "professional" gets thrown around
with abandon, and is often used to denote how "serious" someone is in
their musical endeavours.  I'm not intending a slight to musicians who
can't make ends meet soley through their music, I'm just applying a
more precise definition than is often used.

A guy who works as a waiter while putting himself through college can
be described as a professional waiter, or even a student, but not as a
"professional architect", even if he's attending architecture school,
and even if he really, really likes to draw buildings and has his own
drafting table and a large collection of pencils.

As far as I'm concerned, the same applies to musicians.  Your
"profession" is what you make your living at, your self-definition can
be an entirely different thing.  "Turning pro" usually means "I've
quit my day job".  If you've got a W-2 with something other than
"musician" listed on it, you're semi-pro.  It doesn't mean that you're
less of a musician, just that your involvement in the economic realm
of music-making is below a certain threshold.

TravisH

On 10/16/05, paul <phaslem@wightman.ca> wrote:
> Travis, I really am surprised by your very narrow definition of a
> professional musician! I made my sole living playing music for over ten
> years, I don't consider myself any less professional now.
> I think anyone who is taking their music seriously, is expected to be 
>paid
> when asked to perform, is a professional musician. That may make an
> interesting question to ask, How do you define what a professional 
>musician is?
> By your definition, I guess that I couldn't even be called a professional
> plumber since I don't make enough to cover our bills and need my wife to
> supplement our income.