Hobbyists -vs- Real Musicians?

[RickyWoo]

Also... I trust the Oxford Dictionary more than anyone stating anything more or less than this.

"Musician: A person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented."

Note that there is no use of "and", just the word "or" is used. Meaning there is no edge.. It's either, or, or both.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

Growing up , I made my living as a bass layer until I was 31. At 31, I learned how to program, became a software developer and made my living doing that for 35 years until two years ago when I retired.

If anyone asks if I was a pro, I would say NO. Not because I didn’t make a living playing bass (I did for many years) but because I am in awe of the talent that is out there. The players that absolutely crush me and are at an entirely higher level than I can ever be. So I think of “pro” more in terms of ability rather than income.

 

[Lowbrow]

If I’m being honest, I do think that some bassists are not really musicians. But it has nothing to do with money or how often they gig. It’s a mindset thing.

If you work at your craft, understand the larger context of how your instrument fits into the song, and always seek to improve your playing, you’re a musician to me. Put simply, being a musician is caring about the music.

If you don’t care at all, well, maybe not.

You mean if I'm only in it for the beer and the chicks?

 

[Bassbeater]

Turns out I'm just an non-certified bass operator.
But I can groove man, I groove. Isn't grooving a talent? I'm so confuse. I'm switching back to 4 string until I sort this out.

 

[Plutonium244]

Also... I trust the Oxford Dictionary more than anyone stating anything more or less than this.

"Musician: A person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented."

Note that there is no use of "and", just the word "or" is used. Meaning there is no edge.. It's either, or, or both.

"...plays a musical instrument... or is musicially talented."

Tell me more about these musicians who are musically talented, but don't play a musical instrument.

 

[Robscott]

A frequent side topic on many threads covers "real musicians" - you have to gig five nights a week to consider yourself a real musician. And then the - if you don't play originals, you're just playing someone else's music, might as well be a juke box -vs- play covers - it's what the crowd wants to hear. Then the classic - if you have expensive basses, you're a bedroom hack, it's all in the fingers.

Why do we care so much about what everyone else is doing? We're all bassists and just the fact that we chose bass means that we're largely taking a backseat to the rest of the band. Copyrights are determined by lyrics, chord progressions and melodies. Screw the bass line. If we really wanted to be successful musicians, we'd work on vocal skills and play an acoustic fronting a band. So, maybe it's pent up frustration about nobody really caring about what the bass does until we screw up - then people notice.

If you just enjoy playing at home - that's great! You're still playing bass! If you play originals - awesome! If you're into covers or a tribute - rock it strong! Play a Squier - kudos! Play a MTD - great! Only a very few are actually going to make a living at this. Getting home at 2:30AM for $75-100 gets old quickly for some.

If you are playing bass and find enjoyment in what you do, you're doing it right.

You can talk, or you can play. If you play no-one can tell you **** cos you know where it's at. So all this real musicians stuff is for the talkers IMHO

 

[stringthrough]

Playing music--regardless of pay--makes you a musician. Getting paid to play music makes you a professional musician.

Get out the plunger.

So, Anton Chekhov was a doctor, not a playwright. Got it. I feel foolish, thinking he was generally considered among the greatest playwrights of all time. Silly me.

I guess I just see it differently. There was a point in my life where I was paid to make music. Much like others on here I would gig usually weekly. Today, my age and current career, which includes copious amounts of travel, make it too difficult to commit to a band. So was I a musician before, but I am not now?

Putting this in context, if someone asked me what I do? I would not say... "I am a musician." Like most of us, in that context, I would define myself by my primary occupation. (Which is a different discussion for a different day.)

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This is my opinion and I stand by it. Butcher, baker, candlestick maker, musician, etc. are professions. If your primary source of income is not through playing music you're an amateur. I can be a 0 handicap golfer who makes his living as say, an accountant. That makes me an accountant not a golfer.

 

[Lowbrow]

"...plays a musical instrument... or is musicially talented."

Tell me more about these musicians who are musically talented, but don't play a musical instrument.

You really going to pick a fight with the Oxford Dictionary?

 

[DoctorZee]

"...plays a musical instrument... or is musicially talented."

Tell me more about these musicians who are musically talented, but don't play a musical instrument.

I guess... Vocalists? Beatboxers? Spoons players? DJs?

 

[DoctorZee]

If your primary source of income is not through playing music you're an amateur.

Sure, but an amateur WHAT? An amateur... musician?

 

[Lowbrow]

+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+

This is my opinion and I stand by it. Butcher, baker, candlestick maker, musician, etc. are professions. If your primary source of income is not through playing music you're an amateur. I can be a 0 handicap golfer who makes his living as say, an accountant. That makes me an accountant not a golfer.

Nah. Professional musician is a profession. Says so right on the label.

 

[RickyWoo]

Look, I gig... Not weekly, not nightly. I don't call myself a professional because I make a few bucks to supplement my actual income every now and then though. I'm a hobbyist with a professional attitude towards being a musician.

 

[slobake]

Getting paid/monetized = Pro
-Everything else is negotiable.
Real/fake... Hmm. If i'm not the songwriter, then I am playing a cover. Every song is an original to somebody.

Reminds me of being a writer. If you write then you are a writer. If you have published your work then you are an author. Just words but sometimes words help us to understand things.

 

[Lowbrow]

Look, I gig... Not weekly, not nightly. I don't call myself a professional because I make a few bucks to supplement my actual income every now and then though. I'm a hobbyist with a professional attitude towards being a musician.

You are a musician.

 

[StayLow]

If you post more than you gig, you're probably not a musician.

I cringe when called a musician, because my income is not primarily from music and mostly it seems totally disrespectful to the many full-time formally-educated-in-music pros that I'm blessed to have as friends and mentors.

Even though I've toured backing household names in major venues, and actively record & gig in various bands in varied genres as well as sitting on national advisory boards for recording arts, I am a hobbyist.

I will speak at length about my love of music and my projects, but I'm not so vain as to call myself a musician or even a bassist.

If you don't know any serious cats that'll give you some humility, try hanging on the DB side of this site.

 

[RickyWoo]

"...plays a musical instrument... or is musicially talented."

Tell me more about these musicians who are musically talented, but don't play a musical instrument.

Really, I just don't have the time to explain Oxford commas right now.

 

[Lowbrow]

If you post more than you gig, you're probably not a musician.

I cringe when called a musician, because my income in not primarily from music and mostly it seems totally disrespectful to the many full-time formally-educated-in-music pros that I'm blessed to have as friends and mentors.

Even though I've toured backing household names in major venues, and actively record & gig in various bands in varied genres as well as sitting on national advisory boards for recording arts, I am a hobbyist.

I will speak at length about my love of music and my projects, but I'm not so vain as to call myself a musician or even a bassist.

If you don't know any serious cats that'll give you some humility, try hanging on the DB side if this site.

You are a musician.

 

[BigDanT]

If I’m being honest, I do think that some bassists are not really musicians. But it has nothing to do with money or how often they gig. It’s a mindset thing.

If you work at your craft, understand the larger context of how your instrument fits into the song, and always seek to improve your playing, you’re a musician to me. Put simply, being a musician is caring about the music.

If you don’t care at all, well, maybe not.

This is an interesting point (to me). Because I would agree that, if you scribble a note to your wife saying you are going to pickup groceries, it doesn't mean you are a writer. Or if you go to a wine and canvas class, it doesn't make you a painter. In these scenarios, you have engaged in the act of writing or painting. I guess the distinction would be if you practice the craft with the goal of making yourself better and you commit time to doing it repetitively. But, wow, we are really getting into deep waters now.

 

[Ellery]

I have observed those who are failing or barely getting by thru professional gigging hold great resentment against those who are doing it mostly for fun. The successful have no need to complain because the weekend warriors are no threat.

 

[Bassbeater]

If you post more than you gig, you're probably not a musician.

I cringe when called a musician, because my income in not primarily from music and mostly it seems totally disrespectful to the many full-time formally-educated-in-music pros that I'm blessed to have as friends and mentors.

Even though I've toured backing household names in major venues, and actively record & gig in various bands in varied genres as well as sitting on national advisory boards for recording arts, I am a hobbyist.

I will speak at length about my love of music and my projects, but I'm not so vain as to call myself a musician or even a bassist.

If you don't know any serious cats that'll give you some humility, try hanging on the DB side if this site.

Pfffft. A punk rocker just took your lunch money and spent it on strings...