Tuning Slide #5.19- More on Being Professional

Weekly Reflections on Life and Music

Amateurs wait for inspiration. The real pros get up and go to work.
— Harvey Mackay

It seems to have become one of my standard ideas to expand on- the difference between amateurs and professionals. The old definition that professionals get paid while amateurs don’t is not the way to think about it- and not just because there are a lot of musicians who get paid very little to do their music and yet are truly professionals. It doesn’t take too many Google searches (usually about 1) to find a slew of things comparing the two.

One I found was on the website for the business magazine Inc. It starts with the question:

What qualities, traits, or habits set those who achieve incredible things apart from those who merely dream about it?

It is a good starting point. Far from the issue of how much you earn at whatever you are professional at, it has to do with what you achieve, moving beyond merely dreaming. For many years I was truly an amateur. Any dreams or desires I had for my music were simply that- dreams. Some of them hardly mentioned, others left behind when I graduated from college I never expected to become professional, under the more traditional definition- or any other. Then I came across some people who encouraged me to change my style, my music, and my habits. I hesitate to call myself a professional even now. At least I know I am more professional than I have ever been. Here, from that article on Inc. are some of the things that separate one from the other. My comments in italics.

◆ Amateurs stop when they achieve something. Professionals understand that the initial achievement is just the beginning.
◆ Amateurs think they are good at everything. Professionals understand their circles of competence.
[I always thought that once I did something, advanced beyond a certain point, I had arrived at wherever that achievement took me. If I got through the first section of Arban, on some level I should be able to do anything in the book. Not true. That first achievement- or even number 100 is not the end. As an amateur that is frustrating. As a professional it is energizing.]

◆ Amateurs give up at the first sign of trouble and assume they're failures. Professionals see failure as part of the path to growth and mastery.
[My “‘troubles” 50+ years ago led me to believe I wasn’t able to do the music. Hence it DID become failure, although purely self-imposed. Only when I looked back with a more realistic understanding did it begin to move me. It still amazes me!]

◆ Amateurs see feedback and coaching as someone criticizing them as a person. Professionals know they have weak spots and seek out thoughtful criticism.
◆ Amateurs focus on identifying their weaknesses and improving them. Professionals focus on their strengths and on finding people who are strong where they are weak.
[The first time I was doing some writing for a study guide for our church’s denominational publications, I got very upset at the person who was overseeing and editing the project. “How dare they edit what I’ve written. It’s so good. Fortunately, since they were a friend of mine, I didn’t say that. Instead, I learned that editing is essential in the final drafts of publications. I have since generally learned to look at advice as support, letting me see what I can do- and how to use it for what I am working on. Hence the ongoing use of the very basics of trumpet playing- long tones, scales, Arban and Clarke.]

◆ Amateurs focus on being right. Professionals focus on getting the best outcome.
◆ Amateurs focus on the short term. Professionals focus on the long term.
[As an amateur I wanted to be perfect. Every mistake I made was a failure. (See above!) Everything was about what was right in front of me- and it was often too far down the road. There was a sense of unreality. I have jokingly said that this is why I have never gotten very far in my guitar playing. I want to be able to play perfectly RIGHT NOW! I want to be able to be as good on the guitar as I am on the trumpet- and it doesn’t work that way. By the way, I am thinking about trying that guitar thing again. I'll see how well I can follow my own advice.]

◆ Amateurs show up inconsistently. Professionals show up every day.
[This can bring chaos to community-based music groups. Part of the problem is that we all usually have day jobs that allow us the freedom to be musicians. That can get in the way of our music. Some of that is unavoidable and part of the reason that while any community-based groups can be very good, we always know that we will never be at the level of the groups on the higher plane. But, if we put in our effort, make the plans to be there every day and add our part to it, our groups will achieve far more than we think we can! And that leads to the last of these:]

◆ Amateurs believe that the world should work the way they want it to. Professionals realize that they have to work with the world as they find it.
[Acceptance and mindfulness; knowing our current limits but not giving up on where we can go; going to work at our “day jobs” while allowing the music to grow within and through us. That’s what works!]

My biggest issue is that I can easily fall back into the old ways. Because I don’t earn my living playing music I can find myself thinking about backing off and being satisfied with wherever I am. That’s still my inner amateur at work. Just because one has been able to get past the early amateur shortcomings, doesn’t mean that one is able to always be “professional.” It is always a work in progress. I and my music are always works in progress. As long as I am moving in that direction, I am no longer just an amateur. I am a musician.

Where are you able to be professional today? Pick one or two and begin to think about how you can improve your musical game.