General Music Chat

Ever notice that every band that advertises for musicians is looking for "professional musicians" ?

I had to laugh. I only know about 20 some odd tunes well and just consider myself "in it for the fun", reads "not a professional".

So I went to jam with these guys I met off of Craigslist.

What a debacle !!!

When they meant jam, they really mean jam, as in they didn't know even 1 song in it's entirety. I figured that maybe they knew something I didn't, so I played along and just tried to follow along. Then they are trying to teach me one of their "tunes". Wow, the only way I can describe it is "non-melodic". I asked them what else they knew to be greeted with ominous silence.

Ok, so that didn't work.

I figured I would teach them an easy tune.. (blank stares back at me)
(Mary had a little lamb would have been a better choice)

So then I whipped out OPIUM the tune and a copy of it. We listened to it, 420'd and then I went over it in detail, part by part. They all agreed they understood the 2 some odd bars of the rhythm part that really needs to stay intact. (gimme a break)

I have a copy of what was played and it certainly was not professional. I came away with the distinct feeling that the bunch was a lost cause.

I ended up getting a very nice email saying they liked what I played but wanted to play something more along the lines of "As I lay dying".

I didn't know what that was, so I looked them up on myspace.
ehhhhhhhhcccccccccccccccck lol

I am starting to think that PROFESSIONAL is in the eye of the beholder..and the ear of as well.

This was bloody funny hahahaha
I went to an audition for lead guitar many years back. They where smoking hash and hadn't a clue about where they were going. I always record stuff and still have a tape of that night from about 20 years ago. What a LARF!

All they kept saying was "Play more lead Dude, more lead". I think I struck about 15 chords all night, "Play more lead Dude, more lead". Anyway my hands were so sore after 3 hours of "Play more lead Dude, more lead". And when I drove 20 miles back home looked at the advert.

Serious professional musicians only.

Being a professional has nothing to do with musical ability or level. It simply means that you make your living from the activity. Many amateurs are better than some pros will ever be. I get paid for playing music but not enough to support my lifestyle, therefore I work. Technically I am an amateur but I blow the doors off from many pros due to the 30+ years I have accumulated on the instrument.

You have to master the art of the phone interview in order to avoid time wasters.

I think being a PROFESSIONAL is a faze people go in and out of, or change. For example; A basket ball player who gets into a fight on the floor is makeing a professionl change from player to boxer.

It simply means that you make your living from the activity.

It can mean that, sure. But I tend to think that when people say they want 'professional musicians' it has much more to do with the way you behave than whether you make a living from the activity.

To me, being a 'professional' as a musician means:

You actually know how to play your instrument at a proficient level
You have your own equipment and it's not junk
You have your own transportation
You practice frequently
You show up on time to rehearsals
You know your parts to the songs
You do not waste time at rehearsals
You don't have a drug or alcohol problem
You have a good attitude
You do whatever is necessary and within your capability to make the band successful


To me, that's being a "professional". And none of that has anything to do (directly) with making money. You can be all of those things and never make a dime. You can be none of those things and get paid.

n/a ? No alcohol ? The last time I had a beer was in 95 . Oh sorry I messed up .


Its another day in Paradise !!!

It simply means that you make your living from the activity.

It can mean that, sure. But I tend to think that when people say they want 'professional musicians' it has much more to do with the way you behave than whether you make a living from the activity.

To me, being a 'professional' as a musician means:

You actually know how to play your instrument at a proficient level
You have your own equipment and it's not junk
You have your own transportation
You practice frequently
You show up on time to rehearsals
You know your parts to the songs
You do not waste time at rehearsals
You don't have a drug or alcohol problem
You have a good attitude
You do whatever is necessary and within your capability to make the band successful


To me, that's being a "professional". And none of that has anything to do (directly) with making money. You can be all of those things and never make a dime. You can be none of those things and get paid.

^^^ Good one ColorsFade.

To clarify, lets compare what makes an Artist vs. Musician. (awesome excerpt from music writer Chris Juergensen):

The Artist

I'll start with the artist. The artist plays for himself for the most part. His objective as a guitarist is to please his own artistic hunger. He strives for artistic elegance. Don't get me wrong, this is not necessarily a bad thing for me and you. It's great. Artists make life for the rest of us better. Artists create art. I have Picasso hanging on my wall, not something a graphic designer drew that I found in a magazine. The problem with being an artist is…it's rough to make ends meet. Artists are generally only brilliant at their own music or working with artists that fall into the same category as themselves. Artists constantly study art. That's the reason it's hard to make a living. The artist is always striving to create better art. He creates art with such high standards, the average Joe has a hard time understanding it. The artist is so involved in creating art that he often creates a gap between himself and the masses. I'm not saying all artists are broke but it's a gamble.

The Musician

The musician is a different animal all together. The musician is a hired gun. Although he may have musical preferences, he isn't picky about what he plays to pay the rent. While the artist may be particular about what he has to play to get paid, the musician will play anything. He is well versed in all styles and can mimic various players. These types of players make good studio musicians, session players and teachers. They usually do all these things. Like the artist, the musician is always working on learning new skills. The only problem with the musician is that he tends to find himself artistically frustrated. Let's face it, deep down inside, we all really want to be the artist. We want our music to live on after we're gone. We want someone, after we die, to send one of our CDs off into deep space so some alien can find it in a million years and say "them earthlings wrote the most glorious music in the galaxy."

I consider myself semi-pro. I play for money 95% of the time but I make my living elsewhere.

Capt whats up with the polls? It seems like every other post you put up you put a poll with it. You didnt have semi-pro so I didnt vote. I guess N/A would have worked.

Santos I really liked your summing up of this.
Everyone will have a different view of anything on a plate, particularly the hired gun bit.

I guess where I am in this bedlam is someone with an urge to express.

Not that this might come at a price, it may come free, it may never come at all.

I think the keyword is just plain and simple FUN!
There is enough stress in life these days isn't there.
Good one Santos.

It simply means that you make your living from the activity.

It can mean that, sure. But I tend to think that when people say they want 'professional musicians' it has much more to do with the way you behave than whether you make a living from the activity.

To me, being a 'professional' as a musician means:

You actually know how to play your instrument at a proficient level
You have your own equipment and it's not junk
You have your own transportation
You practice frequently
You show up on time to rehearsals
You know your parts to the songs
You do not waste time at rehearsals
You don't have a drug or alcohol problem
You have a good attitude
You do whatever is necessary and within your capability to make the band successful


To me, that's being a "professional". And none of that has anything to do (directly) with making money. You can be all of those things and never make a dime. You can be none of those things and get paid.

^^^ Good one ColorsFade.

To clarify, lets compare what makes an Artist vs. Musician. (awesome excerpt from music writer Chris Juergensen):

The Artist

I'll start with the artist. The artist plays for himself for the most part. His objective as a guitarist is to please his own artistic hunger. He strives for artistic elegance. Don't get me wrong, this is not necessarily a bad thing for me and you. It's great. Artists make life for the rest of us better. Artists create art. I have Picasso hanging on my wall, not something a graphic designer drew that I found in a magazine. The problem with being an artist is…it's rough to make ends meet. Artists are generally only brilliant at their own music or working with artists that fall into the same category as themselves. Artists constantly study art. That's the reason it's hard to make a living. The artist is always striving to create better art. He creates art with such high standards, the average Joe has a hard time understanding it. The artist is so involved in creating art that he often creates a gap between himself and the masses. I'm not saying all artists are broke but it's a gamble.

The Musician

The musician is a different animal all together. The musician is a hired gun. Although he may have musical preferences, he isn't picky about what he plays to pay the rent. While the artist may be particular about what he has to play to get paid, the musician will play anything. He is well versed in all styles and can mimic various players. These types of players make good studio musicians, session players and teachers. They usually do all these things. Like the artist, the musician is always working on learning new skills. The only problem with the musician is that he tends to find himself artistically frustrated. Let's face it, deep down inside, we all really want to be the artist. We want our music to live on after we're gone. We want someone, after we die, to send one of our CDs off into deep space so some alien can find it in a million years and say "them earthlings wrote the most glorious music in the galaxy."

I want my binky

Why? Do you suck?

I want my binky

I voted that yes, I'm a pro.

Not that I really am, but like Jimmy pointed out, many of us amateurs can operate at a pro capacity more often than the real pros-

To me a pro just means the musician has these qualities:

1. Musical proficiency.
2. Desire to improve
3. No deficiencies learning and preparing materials for performances
4. An grown-up attitude and approach towards everyone and everything, including band-mates, fans, venues, and overall gigging.
5. Suitable gear and transportation
6. Availability - I can't stress that one enough.
7. Can at least make some money, some where, sometimes.

Stuff this!

I ain't no pro and never will be. PRO'S can be found on any corner street and in most places. Yah just cannot define except.....................

Those people who stay together and work together over a long period and have some measure of success.

I'm no pigeon, never will be though I learn to fly.

Why? Do you suck?

I want my binky

YUP

In most things pro simply means you take money for your services.

Has nothing to do with your intentions or being good at what you do, it simply means you take money for your services.

With that said Im a rock n roll ho!