Pros and Amateurs

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 26 Jan 2008 1:42 pm

Would it be correct to say that most pedal steel players are amateurs and not pros? I would define a pro as someone whose sole income is derived from playing steel guitar. An amateur, on the other hand, would be someone like me, who has a day job - in my case - teaching school, who practices about two hours a day during the week. By use of the word "amateur" I am not trying to demean or put us down. Many of us non-professional players have superb equipment and many are brilliant players.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 26 Jan 2008 1:48 pm

tb,
In that case you'll have to assign different levels of 'amateur'.
You are closer to a pro than I am...you practice 4 times as much as me, and I don't play in public at all.

Therefor I feel that it is unfair to put all the pickers who don't have steel as a living, in one basket.

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 26 Jan 2008 2:21 pm

If she charges for it she's a pro.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 26 Jan 2008 3:28 pm

Technically, a professional gets paid, and an amateur does it for the love of it, for no pay. But this overlooks the vast difference between the pro who does nothing else but play for a living, and all of us "semi-pros" who have a day job and play for pay on weekends. Just adding the "semi-pro" term for the weekend warriors gives us three terms that take in everybody.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 26 Jan 2008 3:41 pm

I play for a few bands, some for free, and some for hire. I record the same way. I have a day job with the flexability to let me tour and have the next day after shows off. But buy far I spend more than I make on music.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 26 Jan 2008 4:59 pm

You made an excellent point David with that category of semi pro. Many of us fit into that category.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 26 Jan 2008 6:26 pm

I think in the back of our minds we're all professional-wannabees, but there's only just so much room in the market for full-time professionals and there's a lot of competition out there from really talented players.

I always wanted to be a rock & roll singer like Carl Perkins, but somehow it never happened. However, in my sub-basement I can be Elvis, Buddy Emmons, or whoever I want to be... as long as you don't listen too carefully to the recordings.

Rick Nicklas · Post by **Rick Nicklas** » 26 Jan 2008 7:06 pm

"3 Cheers for Doggett"! I have never thought of it that way before but it makes sense. Practice a little during the week when not working and attending to family needs. Then, let it hang loose at the Senior Dance for $30.00 on Friday nights. (Semi-Pro) I like it...

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 27 Jan 2008 9:05 am

I guess that I am happier being a wealthy semi pro with a good day job, rather than a poor full time professional with not much work or gigs.

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 27 Jan 2008 9:53 am

What do you call a steelplayer with out a girlfriend?
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HOMELESS!!!!
JE:-)>

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 27 Jan 2008 10:52 am

Bo Legg wrote:If she charges for it she's a pro.

I better not say that...

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 27 Jan 2008 11:01 am

tbhenry wrote:I guess that I am happier being a wealthy semi pro with a good day job, rather than a poor full time professional with not much work or gigs.

To each his own. I'll take being a "poor" player any day than to give my entire life to a day job doing what I would rather not be doing and only giving my spare time to what I love doing.

If your not good enough to be a pro then that is one thing, but if you are good enough that's another.

I catagorize a pro musician as someone who makes the bulk of his income out playing. Business people are readily involved in several business ventures. Musicians can still be "pro" and have other ventures.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 27 Jan 2008 4:24 pm

A pro is someone who's is smarter then a semi- pro..

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 27 Jan 2008 5:38 pm

A professional is one that gets paid, even if you play one hour a night, once you get paid you are a professional.

You are geting paid what others do for fun.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 27 Jan 2008 8:13 pm

Bo Legg wrote:If she charges for it she's a pro.

Bo, I wanna hear you tell some babe that!

("Yeah your good baby but your still an amateur at it.")

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 28 Jan 2008 6:17 am

I think we all tend to place "pro" on players with a certain level of "pro"-ficiency. I have been paid to play but do not and will not consider myself a pro until such time that would not fear going on stage with.........lets say Johnny Bush. I could not hack that level and probably never will be able to but I enjoy what little I can do.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 28 Jan 2008 6:52 am

Would it be correct to say that most pedal steel players are amateurs and not pros?

I would say that is true of every instrument. There are certainly far more 'amateur' pianists, guitar players, horn players, fiddlers, etc. than there are pros (or even 'semi-pros' for that matter).

Chuck Morel · Post by **Chuck Morel** » 28 Jan 2008 7:15 am

I believe it to be a matter of luck. Theres a lot of players out there that smoke many of the so-called pro players, and I mean no disrespect. The funny thing is, we all strive to learn their licks, although we could quite possible have a few better ones. Problem is, they won't ever be heard.Possibly a good topic would be luck vs talent.
I believe we all work hard at this instrument,some are just luckier than others.

Mark Treepaz · Post by **Mark Treepaz** » 28 Jan 2008 9:23 am

Here's a link to very similar discussion topic that took place a while ago (April 2007)...pretty much the same discussion.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 28 Jan 2008 10:14 am

I don't think luck has anything to do with it.

In my case I made a decision (once I'd completed my formal education) to see if I could make a living playing my guitar. That was in 1960, and, so far, it's working out pretty well. It was my choice.

I added pedal steel to my arsenal in the '70s. There are many players who are better than me and, perhaps, a few who are not, but the die is cast now and I'll be doing the best I can until my dying day.

I'm still having fun learning!

RR

Dave Biller · Post by **Dave Biller** » 28 Jan 2008 10:28 am

there's A LOT more to being a professional musician than having great chops and luck. play in tune and play the RIGHT stuff for the gig. learn the music you are playing. not just the tunes but the STYLE. show up to the gig on time and be a nice guy. the people i know don't like to deal with "quirky geniuses" no matter how great they are, so they won't hire them.
if you're serious about being a pro, you have to go someplace where there's work. there is a little "luck" involved but if you want to play country music in a band but happen to live in Trenton, New Jersey, you may increase your odds by moving to Nashville or Austin. as far as talent or chops, there is no line you cross in moving from amateur to "full time" pro status. the line you cross is when you decide to remove the net and go for it.

Tamara James · Post by **Tamara James** » 28 Jan 2008 12:06 pm

Les Anderson wrote:
Bo Legg wrote:If she charges for it she's a pro.
Bo, I wanna hear you tell some babe that! ("Yeah your good baby but your still an amateur at it.")

I have heard men say there are amateurs getting paid everyday. They called them "wives."

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 28 Jan 2008 3:41 pm

Roger Rettig wrote:I don't think luck has anything to do with it.

RR

I believe luck has a lot to do with most any success. Retired NFL oach and NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs once said, "Luck is where opportunity and preparation meet".

Not disagreeing with you Roger, just a different way of saying it.

Bill McRoberts · Post by **Bill McRoberts** » 28 Jan 2008 4:18 pm

Well Said Dave!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 28 Jan 2008 4:42 pm

though not the proper definition, i suppose, i consider pros the players with professional chops and attitude...as opposed to players with amateurish ability and talent...

wasn't johnny cox a bus driver...carrying recording artists around with their 'professional' steel players, that he could play under the table?

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