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View Poll Results: Are you a professional, a semi-professional or a hobbyist?
Professional 10 4.27%
Semi-professional 46 19.66%
Hobbyist 178 76.07%
Voters: 234. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 09-19-2019, 06:36 AM
Guest 33123
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Default pro, semi-pro or hobbyist?

Hi guys,

just curious if you are a professional, a semi-professional or a hobbyist?

Professional = music is sole source of income - https://www.google.com/search?client...s=professional
Semi-professional = music is partial source of income - https://www.google.com/search?client...i-professional
Hobbyist = music does not generate income - https://www.google.com/search?client...#dobs=hobbyist

I'm a hobbyist with a full time career in engineering.

I made the categories somewhat broadly defined on purpose. I'll leave it up to you to interpret. Don't fit into a category? Feel free to explain below.

Please don't take this too seriously. It's just meant to be a discussion, not some scientific study.

Last edited by Guest 33123; 09-19-2019 at 08:32 AM. Reason: content
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  #2  
Old 09-19-2019, 06:40 AM
jklotz jklotz is offline
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Well, I play out regularly and get paid to do so, but if it all fell through tomorrow, I'll still be able to eat and pay the mortgage. So what does that make me? Semi pro I guess?
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  #3  
Old 09-19-2019, 06:41 AM
Matt G Matt G is offline
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I'm a hobbyist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by J-Doug View Post
Hi guys,

just curious if you are a professional, a semi-professional or a hobbyist?

Professional = music is sole source of income
Semi-professional = music is partial source of income
Hobbyist = music does not generate income

I'm a hobbyist.
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  #4  
Old 09-19-2019, 06:43 AM
srbell srbell is offline
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I teach guitar 1 evening each week and play in a praise band, but take no pay for either, so I suppose I'm a hobbyist.
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Old 09-19-2019, 06:45 AM
lt20dbl lt20dbl is offline
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Only source of income for 30 years. 65 and can't afford to retire!
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  #6  
Old 09-19-2019, 06:54 AM
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Gratefully a full time pro... no play, no pay!
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  #7  
Old 09-19-2019, 07:10 AM
CarlE CarlE is offline
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Semi-Semi-Semi Pro! In other words, I play out a few times a year as part of an acoustic duo and basically earn enough to buy strings, pics, and the occasional guitar-related toy. If I had to eat from just the money I earn I would be the skinniest guy on the AGF.

Last edited by CarlE; 09-19-2019 at 07:17 AM.
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  #8  
Old 09-19-2019, 07:29 AM
S-10Ken S-10Ken is offline
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I do have some music on Spodify, I tunes etc but get absolutely no money for it so I'm a Hobbyist!
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  #9  
Old 09-19-2019, 07:34 AM
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SalFromChatham SalFromChatham is offline
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i voted hobbyist, although i gig a few times a month. Get paid, but the money is inconsequential...
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  #10  
Old 09-19-2019, 07:36 AM
B. Adams B. Adams is offline
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The majority of my income comes from live audio, which is mostly music. Very little of my income comes from playing my own music. Does that count?
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  #11  
Old 09-19-2019, 07:54 AM
pieterh pieterh is offline
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Semi-pro definitely. It’s been a healthy source of enjoyment and income, especially the last 7-8 years or so. My day job is sound engineer so music and theatre are never very far away in my professional and private life. This weekend just gone I was playing bass for a professional concert in Cannes and next weekend we’re putting on our own tribute to Abbey Road. Just now I’m running sound for a teachers’ conference in my day job and this coming weekend we’re hosting the premiere for a new theatre piece so it’s likely to be a long but rewarding day.
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  #12  
Old 09-19-2019, 07:54 AM
roylor4 roylor4 is offline
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Semi-pro. Make about 20% of my income playing.
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  #13  
Old 09-19-2019, 08:00 AM
mercy mercy is offline
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Thank you pro and semi pro's for being apart of this assemblage. Im talking to builders and players. We need your experience.
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  #14  
Old 09-19-2019, 08:09 AM
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I think I earned a little more than $4 from my streaming so far this year. Not enough for a set of strings..... Hobbyist.
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  #15  
Old 09-19-2019, 08:10 AM
troystory92 troystory92 is offline
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Semi-Pro

Full time accountant, part time musician with ~40 paying gigs a year.

Very blessed to get some extra cash for doing something I love. Can't imagine doing it as my sole source of income. Props to you guys who do!
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