A question for all professional bassists

[Definitely]

Started bass at 9, been playing for four years, still haven't created a band so it's not really looking promising for the near future either

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Your correct, but you must understand that professional means solely living off what you do. If you have a second 9x5 job then i doubt you are a "PROFESSIONAL" as you still depend on that 9x5 to pay the mortgage.

Lets beat this dead horse.
So the Wall Street stockbroker that also pulls down $25,000.00 per year playing bass in a wedding band is not a professional?
I will grant you he is not a full time professional, but hes definitely a part time professional.
Amateur= one who makes no money.
Professional= one who makes money.

 

[electracoyote]

Lets beat this dead horse.
So the Wall Street stockbroker that also pulls down $25,000.00 per year playing bass in a wedding band is not a professional?
I will grant you he is not a full time professional, but hes definitely a part time professional.
Amateur= one who makes no money.
Professional= one who makes money.

Let's not beat the dead horse, let's nip it in the bud.

Professional - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

According to the definition of the word, only one sense even hints at doing something for your "livelihood." All other senses regard either your demeanor and approach to said activity, or that any financial compensation (not neccesarily a living wage) constitutes being a professional.

So, you don't need to make enough at an endeavor to pay all your bills and take a vacation every year in order to be considered a "professional." Okay?

Perhaps it would be nice to hear from others what level of professional they are, such as spare income or pocket change versus living wage.

 

[onosson]

Started playing bass when I was 13-14. Had first paying gig when I was 17-18. Was making my living (at least 80% of income) off gigs by the time I was 19-20 and ever since (just turned 40) with the exception of one year, in 2001, and just recently.

 

[FutureTense]

Probably took me 4 years to get into a band that I was actually paid from when I first started playing bass.

Played in a few bands in high school that did Battle of the Bands type stuff, but never made any money til I was in college and started getting into the bar bands.

 

[AudioDwebe]

Funny story. Went to a bar a long time ago to have some beers and check out this local band everybody had been talking about. Talked to them at their break, and turned out they were looking for a bass player. Intoxicated, I said, "yeah I play bass". So they asked me to come to practice the next week and they had a gig the following week. Had to rush out and buy a bass the next day, learn how to play it, and learn about 40 songs in 3 days. So from start to the first paying gig, 6 days. I wasn't totally blind going in, though it was pretty much root notes for 4 hours. I had played piano since I could walk, and messed around on guitar for years, so I knew notes, chord progressions, and was very familiar with all of the songs they played. Just a funny start for me.

Awww man i love stories like this, funny this is how i came about playing Congas for an artist for 2 years, saw her perform, of course i had a few cocktails and she was looking for a conga player, i said "i play congas" which i did but had not played in like 3 years, 2 days later i rehearsed and i got to play for her for 2 years.

must drink more beer...

 

[phatbass]

6 months

 

[Steve]

Okay...

How long had you been playing before your first paid gig?

My first paid gig was my first bass gig, I was 13 and had been living and breathing classical guitar for 4 years prior to that.

 

[sjphi26]

Started playing music at 15, didn't start getting paid until 8 years later.

Now I pull in about $15,000 a year, but 75% of that is the result of one steady, weekly, well paying (and extremely lucky to have) gig.

I do have a 9-5 job as well, but I still consider myself to be a professional. I base that not only on compensation, but also on my approach and dedication to my craft, and well... my "professionalism". I get paid to show up prepared and ready to give my best, and I do that each week.

 

[Art Araya]

first pay gig was very soon after i first laid hands on a bass...

but i had played music before for about 8 years (accordion then guitar)

 

[Art Araya]

Started bass at 9, been playing for four years, still haven't created a band so it's not really looking promising for the near future either

so you're 13 now? man, don't worry - keep playing and jam with anyone you can. eventually a band will form and a pay gig will follow.

 

[mcblahflooper94]

I was 13 when I first picked up bass. Got in a band about a year later, just last week made 50$.

Please, don't do it for money. Do it for music.

 

[electracoyote]

Please, don't do it for money. Do it for music.

And if you get good enough and the opportunity arises, do it for both music and money.

 

[Roscoe East]

How long had you been playing before you became a professional?

If you're defining "professional" as "making any amount of money whatsoever", I'd been playing bass for approximately two months before I got my first paying gig.

If you want to re-define "professional" as "getting frequent/regular paid gigs", then I'd been playing bass for approximately six or seven years before I hit that milestone.

 

[RL Scott]

Pushing 4 years now. Playing bass and playing for money. There were a couple guys around here playing little acoustic shows in the bars for drinks. Good friends of mine. I'd sit in the back of the bar with them sometimes and strum a guitar along with them. (played for many years, but never had a love for it) Then one day they asked me to pluck some roots on bass behind them just for fun. Said, "why not?'" Next thing I know we add a lead guitarist. Then a drummer and so on. Then of course everyone wants to start doing gigs. I was by no means ready, but couldn't be the one to say no. The band has changed faces except for the drummer and I, but we play constantly, and I must say, I've become a darned good bass player since, and I owe that mostly to the encouraging words of one of those original members; a guy by the name of Rooster Briggs, who has since passed. Miss him on a daily basis.

 

[T-MOST]

I was 16 when I received my first fist of $$ for a gig.

 

[Bassamatic]

About 2-3 weeks. I told my guitar teacher that I wanted to play in a working band, and he told me to learn bass, gave me one bass lesson and fixed me up with another student's band. I learned the tunes with the rhythm player and started playing weekend parties a couple of weeks later.

This was in '67 or 68, I guess. Had a lot of fun times back then as it was a lot easier getting gigs, it seems.

 

[ACalbass]

let's just make it more problematic:

You consider yourself a professional,then.........
Can you play anything that is thrown at you?
shouldn't a professional be able to play anything?
Forget about reading first sight (or reading at all if you wish),but can you follow chord charts? (this implies you know all your scales/fretboard well and know how to improvise a bass foundation based on a given style)
And if the intent is to become one,shouldn't you have the appropriate rig for several different scenarios?
Shouldn't a professional know improvisation?

A professional musician is far from being compared to a college career (except for those that studied in a music college),simply because the music industry changes what is being heard and distributed periodically,and a professional must follow this changes to be up to date for him to qualify for the job.(all of a sudden,everyone hires someone that can slap,and if you don't know how....just an example)

So,what is the consensus regarding being a professional player?
I just do not see merely someone that is getting paid to play,is a complete attitude toward music,regardless it pays all the bills and the mortgage or not.
Is about to improve always,is about to keep always studying,is about to be on time,is about to always be prepared at the count of four,is about to nail it every time,on stage and in rehearsals.
I assume many of you can submit more opinions,but for me,a professional is always looking for "completeness",to be a better musician,to respect what's being played,to respect all other musician's time,and much more.
If you consider yourself a professional because you get paid ,well....a mechanic without instruction can repair a car and get paid for it,but is a professional?
A bass player gets paid for the gig,but does it make him a pro?