There are too many musicians on the internet, calling themselves, “professional musicians”, these days. If you’re calling yourself a professional musician, then you probably aren’t one, in reality. Think about it. Other people would know whether or not you’re a professional musician. Other people are pretty honest about musicians and they’re usually are not afraid to tell whether or not you’re a “pro” or an “amateur”. So you should really let other people do the talking. Leave your ego at the door and let the music speak for itself.
When you get so many people telling you that you play like a pro, then that means you probably are one. If you’re calling yourself a pro, and not many people think you are, what’s wrong with that picture.
I never called myself a pro. I just shut my mouth and let the people do the judging. A lot of people have called me an amateur but I’m okay with that. You see this, “Amateur” vs. “Pros” argument online everywhere with musicians. Fighting over who’s great and who’s a hobbyist. The pros would attack the amateurs saying they are better than them.
I don’t think I’m a pro. I don’t think I’m an amateur/hobbyist. I’m just a guy that loves to play music, that’s it!!!! Whatever people want to call me, I’m cool with it. It’s just that whatever people say about you, it’s entitled to their own opinion. Just like it’s their opinion when they call themselves, a “pro”.
Everyone wants to feel like a pro just because they play in a band, playing gigs all over, and getting lots of fans. In my eyes, a true professional musician is somebody who doesn’t get stuck playing music in Albany, plays shithole bars and crap venues. A true professional is someone who does music as a real career, touring all over the place, being in an actual label and making money off of music. Also, having lots of contacts with people in the music business is considered being a professional as well.
If you’re still stuck in Albany and calling yourself a “pro”, what’s wrong with that? A real pro doesn’t hang in a small town, working day jobs and playing a few gigs a month. A real pro is somebody actually working for the music industry. Sorry, but this is truth. It needed to be said.
Kev
K'Brocking 
I remember one time when my second band was on a Batle of the Bands bill with two other groups (who shall remain nameless). One of the band members from Ten Year Vamp was the host of the battle, and he forwarded me an email that included some replies from people in one of the other bands. I am paraphrasing here (because it was so long ago that I can’t remember exactly what was said), but this guy from the other band said, “We will be there on time because we are professional. I don’t know how professional these other two bands are.” I remember thinking, “What a prick! Who the hell is he to assume no one else in the world can be professional EXCEPT him???” But you know…more often than not, big egos come with music. The best thing to do is advice you say all the time: let them have their big ego, and just keep having faith in what YOU do.
I agree man, this music scene is FULL of big egos, when you call them out on this stuff, they get all pissed and they become defensive. Yep, great point on letting them have their big egos. Karma will get them in the end. Why do you think bands keep changing members or break up sooner? Egos are a huge part of everything.
Kev