DRUMMER CAFE

What the hell is a non-working pro player? A pro who can't get a gig?

Hey, I had a gig once!  

i guess i fit the profile of semi-pro ... regular gigging, but not known out of town, make money, but barely enough to count.  its more than amatuer or hobbyist, but "pro" is kinda strong

LOL ... oh well, I guess we can't please everyone.

Perhaps if you qualified your post or your poll ... maybe mention why you are asking or what's the point. It's a sore spot with a lot of people, and makes some feel left out.

I posed a similar question about a year ago and was almost flamed for it ... all over the term "professional". So I just stay away from the topic ... maybe that's best.

I have to admit ... the selections seem to lean in a way that comes across as judgmental or negative labeling.

That's why I asked why does "signed" have to be grouped with "endorsed". And I have to agree ... what is a "non-working pro player"?

Heck, I can't answer anyone one of these. I play professional, but not with a signed artist, and yet I have endorsement deals (like that means anything), and currently I'm not working! How's that!!!    But you know what, check back tomorrow ... I may be a WORKING professional player with endorsements, but not with signed artist, or perhaps with a signed artist.    

If I'm not working, am I still a professional?

Hey, you asked the question with the poll ... you are getting the answers, it's just that you don't like the response. I know the feeling as it happens to me at times, but hey that's life ... and you asked ... so there's your answer!  

Well ... I don't know why you would suggest that I would lock the thread.

I've played for signed artists, and do a lot of one off's, but I'm not with anyone steady.

Like I said ... I don't see the point ... but that's me. Read a few bios and you'll know what people are up to.

I don't understand why people are seeming to get touchy over this. leave Nomad alone! it was an innocent poll. personally, I find it interesting to see the results.

I'm a semi-pro and proud of it   I think us semi-pros are often the ones who haven't gotten burned out on the music biz, retained our love for music, and often get to concentrate more on the music we love instead of spending all our time playing weddings. no disrespect to the pros out there, as I have limitless admiration for pro drummers. but you have to admit, a good number of pros do get burned out on the gigging life, and seem to lose touch with what they loved about music when they started.

Perhaps "a non-working pro player" is a retired professional. At least, I took it that way. Does a player with years of professional drumming experience lose professional status when they come in from the cold and/or change professions?  If not, then you're saying that  Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Ed Thigpen (Oscar Peterson, etc.), Earl Palmer (everyone), Jimmy Vincent (Louie Prima),  Bill Berry (R.E.M.), Levon Helm (The Band), Kenny Malone (Nashville sessions) or D.C. Fontana (Elvis) are not pros. People do get old and/or move on to other things sometimes.  

It's really tough to maintain your entire income from just drumming and or related activities.  It's not like we are song writers for the most part either.  I also believe that the urge for people to see live music has greatly diminished with the recession and the cost of going out in general.  I mean dinner and a night out at a jazz club is an easy 100 bucks, most people would rather rent a video.  

Not everyone is cut out to tour all the time either.  I really have a lot of respect for people who do it every day.  It's hard work.  My "career" has ups and downs so I keep my day job for when my drumming is slow.  When I get busy with the music I can spend less time at my day job.  Ok, well back to the salt mines.  BTW, when I was drummin full time, it got to be every bit as monotonous as a day job, once in a while I had some perks, but for the most part it wasn't glamorous at all.  Maybe someday.    The other thing is there is a whole lot more to life than playing drums...well, not ALOT more, a little more?  Anyways:

My goal is to play original music and have the band gross about 40-60K per year.  That would be quite an accomplishment for us.

I play with signed artists but I'm not endorsed, I also go through periods of time when I'm gigging almost every day, and then when I'm not.  So I guess I can be a pro and a pro who is not working, depending on the day.  lol

What the heck am I?  I played professionally in bar bands in the eighties(Working Pro).  Then, I quit the bar scene and consequently stopped gigging(non-working pro). Then, I recently bought new drums and started playing again, mostly 'at home' (hobbyist), but I'm trying to form a praise band in the local area (semi-pro, because pay is not involved?).  

Man, quite an eye-opening poll, but I may need therapy after this one!

NOTE: I put myself down as HOBBYIST, so as to not be confused with you real pros.    No insults or hidden meanings in that; just that I'm not earning any bread from it!

 ???Doug