Are You a Professional Musician?

The differences between a professional musician and a novice musician can be complicated. In some circles a classically trained musician is considered a professional. In other circles any musician who gets paid for their services is considered a professional. In my opinion both of these musicians can be considered a novice if they do not do due diligence as it pertains to the business side of the industry. Publishing, distribution,copyrights and trademarks are all necessary clerical steps that must be taken in order to fully monetize your music and likeness. The definition of a professional is a person engaged in a specific activity as their main occupation not just a past time.

I personally know several professional musicians that would find this definition impossible. When it comes to art a person may receive payment and even put in very long hours but the paychecks for art can be few and far between. Often artists have to take on full time jobs just to pay their bill and invest in their craft. It would be insulting to most serious and talented artists to classify them as a novice. In my opinion the classic definition of a professional is hard to apply when describing a vast majority of musicians or recording artists.

In other words the term professional musician is relative to the user, I believe that the consumer or the listener often decides. You can easily declare yourself a professional musician but in my opinion to be considered one you must be able to perform the musical task that you have been commissioned to complete with more than one instance of customer satisfaction. People feel very passionate about their art, as they should but the key is opening up your network. The more strangers that like or dislike your music the more likelihood you will make an informed decision about whether you can be a professional in the traditional sense. Although I believe every professional musician is not a full time one I guarantee a vast majority wish they were. Music is just like any other craft, if you educate yourself and become employed to do the craft under legal license you become a professional.