are professional players better musicians than non-professionals?

[FrankHudson]

I'd say the question is loose enough that one can answer it various ways because various posters are answering a different question by interpretation.

Gee I'm no fun.

I do like the answers in the thread that point out that professional musicians as a class work for and achieve greater consistency and "floor" in their performances. As a corollary I'd point out that a lot of professional musicians (again, generalizing wildly here...) have a higher respect/value for and mastery of "simple" parts that work well rather than complex displays of difficult parts.

I've been paid to make sounds. I'd say I'm not a professional musician because I fail significantly in the second part of that two-part classification. That might sound pedantic again on my part, but I say that so as to not mislead about what I can do in a trade sense. I lack those necessary skills of repeatability, flexibility, and ability to make the simple work well.

[J Patrick]

...of course one can be a fabulous player and not be a professional....and vice versa....however....playing professionally may very well add extra incentive to excel...and if you believe that the more you play the better you get...as I do...it’s more likely that playing professionally is going to make you a better player than a non professional.....exceptions will always occur...

[Ray175]

By and large, probably - but not necessarily. I know some amazing amateur players who would run rings around many performers. Similarly some of the paid performers I've seen don't deserve to get space on an open mike night.

Agree on the comments about session musicians who (by and large) are better musicians than most live performers - they have to be, otherwise they would not get repeat bookings. Equally a good "performer" may be a great entertainer, but not necessarily a super musician, and they will get regular repeat bookings.

[roylor4]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Playing gigs makes you better than you'd be just playing at home, but there's still all sorts of levels of musicianship at the pro level.

Some types of music simply don't require you to be "good," but if you want to keep gigging, you need to be "good at what you do."

Succinct, and I feel, accurate.....

[51 Relic]

Being paid doesn't make you good full stop .

[cciesec2006]

- Non-professional musicians are like college golf players. These guys are really good when you see them compete against other college players or other amateurs. These guys make difficult things look easy MOST of the times.

- Professional musicians are very much like professional golfers. They make difficult things look easy ALL the times.


You don't realize how good these professional golfers are until you look at the scoreboard at a tournament where the NCAA champion golfer does not even make the cut in the pro league.

Professional musicians are the same way.

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by 51 Relic

Being paid doesn't make you good full stop .

Being paid repeatedly makes you good at something.

[Skip Ellis]

Professionals are hired to do a job regardless of their mood that day. The person doing the hiring couldn't care less about the fight you had with your wife last night or whether you have a sniffle. Back in 1981, I buried my father on a Friday morning and went on stage that night - I didn't feel like it but I was being hired to do a job and he always taught me to honor my commitments. Professionals can do this, amateurs cannot.

[lmacmil]

I do open mics regularly and the performers I like are the entertainers. They may not have the chops of the better players but they play music that most people enjoy and do it competently, if not professionally. I have virtually no interest in hearing an entire set of originals because usually, they are mediocre at best.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by lmacmil

I do open mics regularly and the performers I like are the entertainers. They may not have the chops of the better players but they play music that most people enjoy and do it competently, if not professionally. I have virtually no interest in hearing an entire set of originals because usually, they are mediocre at best.

Generally true but every song or tune you listen to was of course somebody's original.

[manson88]

Yes, statistically speaking

I've really enjoyed all of your input, guys. Thank you.

[Frostie]

My two cents: I spend time with my guitar every day, a mix of trying to get better and simple enjoyment. But there is never a day when I “work” as long and hard on my guitar as I routinely “worked” at the job that paid the mortgage and fed my family. For those who do, more power to you, and the very best of luck.

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

Hi guys,

if you get paid to make music does that make you a better musician than those who don't? I often see an inferiority complex in couch players like me and I wonder what drives that. Is it because we've been told that being a skilled paid performer is the pinnacle of musicianship? I've played paid gigs but I choose not to anymore. Does that make me a lesser musician now?

I'd love to hear your opinions.

I think asking to assess who is better in this scenario is an invalid question based exclusively on being paid or not to play.

[Kitkatjoe]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

Hi guys,

if you get paid to make music does that make you a better musician than those who don't? I often see an inferiority complex in couch players like me and I wonder what drives that. Is it because we've been told that being a skilled paid performer is the pinnacle of musicianship? I've played paid gigs but I choose not to anymore. Does that make me a lesser musician now?

I'd love to hear your opinions.

Practice and skill makes you a better musician.