Are You a Musician or a Hobbyist?

[Twangzilla]

I am not putting any guidelines down. I just want to know, how do you see yourself?

[steve108819]

Total hobbyist. I waited until I had a wife and kids before I ever picked up a guitar. I have just about zero time to practice at home, so after 2 years of playing I still consider myself more of a guitar owner. Maybe someday I will get to the point where I can call myself a guitar "player"

[Dica3]

Musician

touring,playing out, recording and practicing is really all i do

and scanning TGP on my iphone whenever i get fidgety of course

[90wreck]

Musician.
The other side, I do consider it a hobby that I get paid for. So.........
This is a pretty tough question to answer.

[kludge]

Both.

[Apartment 11]

Went back and forth between the two for a long time.... then one day.......... WTF! Were am I? :D

[Gibson 1964]

Both.

[GAT]

I've been a musician since I was 7 years old. Once I started playing musical instruments music became an obsession. Even during grad school, I still obsessed about it.

[pixelchemist]

im not good enough to call myself a musician yet... but im getting there

[Flyin' Brian]

I'm a musician


Pronunciation:/mjuːˈzɪʃ(ə)n/
noun



a person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented

[captain_bob]

Musician since I was a kid.

[halorealm7]

Hobby

[sharpshooter]

^ With Flyin Brians definition, I can say that I am a non-profit musician.

[phoenix 7]

Musician. Don't do it for a living now, but I've got some credentials (bachelor's degree in music, Berklee scholarship winner, etc.) and it's the most essential part of who I am.

I am a non-profit musician.

I like it. :D

[Moe Zambeek]

Hobbyist.

:D

[re-animator]

musician. playing guitar isn't even fun for me, it's just a means to an end of making music.

[stevorc321]

Hobbyist. It's probably not correct, but I see 'Musician' as a profession. I make some money out of it, but it's never been my main source of income.

[stratzrus]

Musician. Don't do it for a living now, but I've got some credentials (bachelor's degree in music, Berklee scholarship winner, etc.) and it's the most essential part of who I am.That pretty much sums it up for me too.

[Bob Longo]

I see myself as the Rudy of the musicians' world.

A hobbiest, but I've had my moments.

[Tone-Control]

Mostly a hobby I suppose. :JAM

[MudPies]

Until I no longer get paid for the occasional gig and turn into my worst fear (bedroom guitarist) I believe myself to be a Musician.

[Jetrow]

I am a musician, I am proficient at guitar enough to make it a profession though I at the moment lack the stage presence to be the performer I would like to be.

[StompBoxBlues]

Musician at heart, playing my heart out for almost 40 years now, in bands for a good deal of it, playing gigs with bands or just myself, always playing, always practicing. That's my heart....

But when I look at my "accomplishments", at the fact that I don't come anywhere near making a living at it, and even my level of ability...goes up and down, people seem to like and respect my playing, but I know I am weak on theory and I know what I am good at at it isn't all I would like to be good at...then I have to admit it is a lifelong hobby.

I really hate the word though in this application. Hobby sounds trivial, and music is a necessity with me, listening to and playing. The love I have for music might be shared with other "hobbies" but somehow the word seems to conflict with "passion"...I think hobby, I think of some guy after work in the 50's, going down to the basement, smoking a pipe (with TOBACCO) and playing with a train set.

But I don't know. I chose hobbyist, because I have great respect for "real" musicians and don't feel I am in their league.

[KPO]

Musician by obsession. Playing for more than 30 years now, half of the time I needed non music jobs to survive but I never considered to give up because every other job is second best.

[Jiffy_Jeff]

Musician since I was a kid.

+ 1 here.

[Dickie Fredericks]

Musician

Ive been playing some sort of instrument since I was 4 years old.
Started playing guitar at age 7.
Started piano lessons at age 8.
Played Sax in the school band.

I don't call it a profession or hobby. It's just who I am and what I do.

[StompBoxBlues]

Musician

Ive been playing some sort of instrument since I was 4 years old.
Started playing guitar at age 7.
Started piano lessons at age 8.
Played Sax in the school band.

I don't call it a profession or hobby. It's just who I am and what I do.

I think that is a better way to look at it than I had. I'm going over to that too. Just because someone decides it is either Musician or Hobby one can choose from doesn't make it really so.

[Selsaral]

I guess I have an inferiority complex. I don't think I am good enough to call myself a musician, and I don't make any money at all from it.

[Brazen]

I don't know what I am really. More likely a guitar junkie. I like working on 'em and trying out new stuff (lots of pup swaps). Worked with theory some and can't really go beyond the basics. My ears are pretty poor and only recognize some intervals. I learned some songs through tabs though.

I like playing with the FXs, I guess I'm like The Edge. :)

In my 12 years of playing with the guitar I made 4 songs (no lyrics yet) and one is a medley. I guess I'm a slow learner. I love guitars though.

Do fun come in threes? I have 3 guitars, 3 tube amps and 3 MFX pedals. :D

[Don A]

Musician as a hobby. I've been at it longer than anythiong else but have never wanted to be a pro.

[zekmoe]

Very musical, love doing it, very knowledgeable, but sustain virtually no income from it. And have found times I'm perfectly happy living without it. So I must be a hobbyist, despite having gone to school for it and having a serious investment in the gear.

[I'm so board]

I'm a bedroom player, but I get loads of comments like,

"You're amazing! you must be pro"

"I wish I was as talented as you"

Well my guitar playing and career are not mutually exclusive, so one day I might be a millionaire.

[travisvwright]

Part of the reason I picked musician is that guitar is not the only instruement I make music with.

[KRosser]

My income tax filing has said "musician" for a long time, so I guess it's official.

[taez555]

Musician. Don't do it for a living now, but I've got some credentials (bachelor's degree in music, Berklee scholarship winner, etc.) and it's the most essential part of who I am.


I'm exactly the same.

I have hobbies. I like to fish. I brew beer when I have the chance.

Music isn't like that. Sure I haven't gigged in ten years, but it's what I went to school for, it's what drives me, it's what I lay awake at night and think about. It is who I am at my core.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I'm kind of split between the two. I learned piano at a young age, then guitar and drums. I can play them all pretty well and joined in several bands over the last 30 years making some money at it.

The hobby part started around 1995 when I realized a Les Paul Custom and Marshall wasn't the only tone in town! :huh I was amazed at how many different tones you can get from so many different amps and guitars. Then I got into tweeking and fixing them. Then I discovered TGP and it all went crazy. It's all good. :dunno

[derekd]

I spend 15 + hours a week pursuing music outside of my day job, and it suppliments my income, both playing and teaching. Not sure if it makes me a musician, but it makes me happy.

[The Funk]

More a hobby in terms of the time it takes up. But I have quite a few recording credits and I have been playing in bands for about 20 years so its a pretty consistent hobby. I would consider myself a musician. I certainly have put in the time.

[Jahn]

R/C Cars is a hobby, playing the guitar is making music, which in my mind makes me a musician. Heck, I haven't done R/C cars since middle school, so I'm not even a hobbyist anymore. Used to collect coins and stamps as a kid too - that's a hobby. A while back I was big on trying to collect all the toys I couldn't get as a kid, that's a collector mentality too. But guitars? I don't just collect them - I play them (not "play with them" as in OOh I bought a Voltron on eBay for my collection, I'll play with it a bit before putting it on the shelf!)

So to sum it up (and none of the pics are mine below except the guitars):

Hobby:

http://instinctz.net/waters/RC/fox.jpg

Hobby:

http://www.wwiiremembered.com/files/wwii_coin_stamp_lg.jpg

Hobby:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/dri1968/SuperRobotCabinet020.jpg

Not Hobby - But if I didn't play 'em and just collected them, then yes, hobby:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/jahn0603/Gear/Total.jpg

[Bryan T]

Music is the most important pursuit in my life.

I have/had students who probably fit into the 'hobbyist' group and I can have a hard time relating to them. Folks who are much more into the gear, but who take lessons because they feel like they are obligated to touch on the musical side of things.

[freedom's door]

I consider myself a composer. I use a musical instrument to do it, but as to the actual playing of those instruments, definitely a hobbyist at this point.

[Jerry Shaw]

I've gotta go with hobbyist. I've a small bit of $ gigging, but no appreciable part of my income at all.

I change my own spark plugs, but I'm not a mechanic.

[Killcrop]

I play in a regular band and get paid to do so. I have a day job though.
I have been playing since I was 14 and I am 39.

If I showed up to a paying gig and was handed charts I would probably fail. However I could fake it for a little while anyway.

Its more than a hobbie but not by much. I consider myself a hack musician.

[dsmc80]

Both. Music and exercise are my hobbies. Outside of my professional job, I write, record and play music all of the time. So, I'm a musician as well.

[Tom Gross]

Musical hobbyists are musicians, IMO.

People make music for all kinds of reasons. Money is not the only valid one, nor perhaps even the best one.

[semi-hollowbody]

Who gets more enjoyment out of your playing
if its the audience...= musician
if it is the player = hobbyist

;)

I am a hobbyist...I play for my own enjoyment, I have been in a few garage/basement bands but have never gigged or even tried to gig...I can play well if I am prepared and practiced before I play, but I can not just sit down and wing it with good results...I wouldnt last 5 minutes doing a session in a studio but I can play the intros to back in black, seet home alabama, and 1000 other songs, AND I can probably play good rhythm guitar in many many songs all the way through lol

[SteveO]

Musician isn't what I am, it's who I am.

[guitarworship83]

"A lot of people can't read the sign that says toilet, but it don't mean they don't know how to use one." From Drumline and I completely DISAGREE with it in terms of musicianship... if you want to be a musician, I think you have to read music. I read music better than english in most cases... I guess that makes me a musician.

[SteveO]

"A lot of people can't read the sign that says toilet, but it don't mean they don't know how to use one." From Drumline and I completely DISAGREE with it in terms of musicianship... if you want to be a musician, I think you have to read music. I read music better than english in most cases... I guess that makes me a musician.

I read music myself (learned at the age of six), but I think this criteria would eliminate 90% of the artists that have done some monumental work over the decades.

[StompBoxBlues]

"A lot of people can't read the sign that says toilet, but it don't mean they don't know how to use one." From Drumline and I completely DISAGREE with it in terms of musicianship... if you want to be a musician, I think you have to read music. I read music better than english in most cases... I guess that makes me a musician.


Is it also possible it influences you about what requirements would be for calling one a musician? If you not only read, but sight read...I could see that being something YOU would then decide is a qualification. It's natural...you learned to do something in the music field that takes a lot of work, study, etc. and it would be natural to then say what you say...but it isn't right.


I think theory is important, reading...not so much. I'm weak on both, but I can play. You might even like what you hear, or not.

But I bet if you tried you could come up with a huge list of people that broke new ground, or amazed the audiences with their talent that couldn't read.

I mean, is BB King not a musician? Many or even most of the old blues greats?

I've known guys that could ONLY read music. A friend of mine, simply cannot jam at all, is totally lost (he plays keyboards and piano) if he doesn't have the music in front of him...is he a musician?

I think people that make music are musicians....

[Jahn]

Hmm, if I collect music boxes, which take the turn of a handle to make music, I wonder if I'm a musician:

http://tourism.sulphurspringstx.org/images/musicbox1.jpg

In the conventional sense, no. If i'm the session guy in Williamsburg who studios call in for music box effects in hipster tunes...maybe?

[BuddyGuit]

I do it for a living, but I'm both.

[1973Marshall]

I've done it long enough and strong enough to say pro.

[Joe324]

I'm currently a music student and hope to do a degree in music technology, so it's not quite a profession but so much more than a hobby for me, in all aspects of it.

[semi-hollowbody]

I read music myself (learned at the age of six), but I think this criteria would eliminate 90% of the artists that have done some monumental work over the decades.
+1000...being a musician is playing music people like...if it sounds good then who gives a flying crap whether or not one can "read" music...so blind people cant be musicians...and dont throw brail in my face either LOL unless blind guitarists have three hands :)

[DamianP]

I`m a maker and repairer of musical instruments.

[Ros]

I play in bands but I do not consider myself a musician since I have no formal training and can't read music. My brother who played for the USAF band and has a degree in music is a musician. I've always been told if you cannot read music you're not a musician so I'll have to go with WTF am I then? :) I guess I'm more of a "guitar player" than anything else.

-R.

[Spotmandoo]

Musician. For as much as I play I should probably know more about gear but I'm starting to pay closer attention these days.

[tweedster]

A musician makes music. Labels are psychological gamesmanship/defense mechanisms/justifications. The bottom line - can you make music?

[mtmartin71]

This is tough, but I'd call myself a musician who is closer to hobbyist. I've recorded music that's been released and I play out live about 20+ times a year but it's not what I do for a living. I do make some money at it though.

[re-animator]

I play in bands but I do not consider myself a musician since I have no formal training and can't read music. .

jimi hendrix = musician

[MudPies]

A musician makes music. Labels are psychological gamesmanship/defense mechanisms/justifications. The bottom line - can you make music?

Bingo. It could be said that a guitarist who only plays perfect album versions in cover bands is still a musician.
In my view, if you create music, whether that be by writing songs, or playing out, you are a musician.

[Zero G]

I'm a bit of both I guess. I could have been a working musician, but I chose a different career path. I just play in my apartment now...I miss playing in front of people.

[tatkovladko]

Haha, never thought that being a hobbyist excludes being a musician :rotflmaoMaybe my English sucks.

[cplus]

I've owned and played with guitars on and off for the better part of 35 years. I'm a hobbyist.

[coreybox]

I played viola through-out school (1st chair to boot). Play guitar, can sing in tune (well, at least hear when I'm off!), and am learning the drums.

I understand music. I'm a musician, even though it is not my career path.

[Ricman]

Both. I am a good musician, but I am not the student of technique that makes one awesome on the instrument.
I am better on bass than guitar, but better on sax than bass or guitar.
I can play lead guitar, but I'm not one who can make people's jaw drop.
When I'm with a group of really good guitarists I'm content to stick with bass and observe and maybe learn something from those who have paid the price of serious study.

[StompBoxBlues]

Isn't it funny though...how a person can lay out a situation and assume that is has to be one or the other and we all fall for it.

It's not one or the other.

It's not a choice between the two and don't ever let anyone convince you it is. The truth is, it's just labels, and labels are our way of controlling things.

My definition of a musician, in my head, is different than many others, and it also is situational. Even in my own head, one way of looking at it, I'm not a musician because I put musicians on a pedastal, yet I make music and have heard folks that didn't even know as much as I do about music that I would definitely call a musician.

Your ears, and feelings are not dictated to by labels. You hear what you hear, feel what you feel, and if someone (or you yourself) can make a collection of notes be something MORE than just random notes, and (even though this part isn't required) someone else can enjoy it...who gives a #%&/ what you call it?

Musicians (to me) are folks that love and feel a need to make music, whatever that means to them personally.

Enough....

[Zero G]

Isn't it funny though...how a person can lay out a situation and assume that is has to be one or the other and we all fall for it.

It's not one or the other.

It's not a choice between the two and don't ever let anyone convince you it is. The truth is, it's just labels, and labels are our way of controlling things.

My definition of a musician, in my head, is different than many others, and it also is situational. Even in my own head, one way of looking at it, I'm not a musician because I put musicians on a pedastal, yet I make music and have heard folks that didn't even know as much as I do about music that I would definitely call a musician.

Your ears, and feelings are not dictated to by labels. You hear what you hear, feel what you feel, and if someone (or you yourself) can make a collection of notes be something MORE than just random notes, and (even though this part isn't required) someone else can enjoy it...who gives a #%&/ what you call it?

Musicians (to me) are folks that love and feel a need to make music, whatever that means to them personally.

Enough....

:agree

[JamesT]

just a middle age guy with extra disposable income...

[E Baxter Put]

Played as a kid, went to music school, made all of my money from gigging for a while, toured all over US, Europe and Canada, compose music for TV/ Film, collect royalties, and still play in a small local band.

Yet I still read gear forums, and play every day at home and feel like it's a fun hobby.

[amphog]

Voted hobby, I am a stagehand, I work on Broadway, and have many pro musician friends. The skill level of the players at my show [The Lion King] is humbling. Music is a passion for me, but when I hang with the pros I can not call myself a musician out of respect for their skills.

[StompBoxBlues]

Voted hobby, I am a stagehand, I work on Broadway, and have many pro musician friends. The skill level of the players at my show [The Lion King] is humbling. Music is a passion for me, but when I hang with the pros I can not call myself a musician out of respect for their skills.

I kind of said a very similar thing (not about Broadway..but the rest ;)) and yet....

Two thoughts here, first, IF you had a friend that was exactly like you in every way, I'm thinking you would think HE was a musician?

Also, once again...it's so funny that anyone at all can come along and make it seem as if it is a choice between two things only, it's only one of the two, and we (me at first too) just ACCEPT the premise. :bonk

Personally, I think it is a question that assuming it wasn't meant to be, that it wasn't bad intentions to bring it up, but that only really is going to make people fell bad about themselves. It certainly isn't one that would lift anyone up.

Either you DEFINITELY, by anyone at all's standard are a musician. You play in the Philharmonic, you are featured in "Musicians Quarterly", you are named "Musician of the Year"...

OR..you aren't sure, but most of these would probably err on being a little humble, and therefore suddenly become hobbyists.

OR...you know you aren't a real musician, which...what is the point of reminding them, making them feel they don't belong.

And then you have actualy people that make their living from music, pop stars, etc. maybe who really don't play the hell out of any instrument..so suddenly a big todo about "are THEY musicians?" etc. etc.


I call BS. It's not a choice between the two, and it isn't even (unless we all agree to use the dictionary definition) a common understanding of the term.

This reminds me of reading about classification of species. Scientists make the categories (like mammal, reptile, etc.) and then put everything in these artificial categories, and THEN occasionally find a creature that "is one of mother natures mistakes" (how arrogant) because it doesn't fit neatly into the categories they themselves made. It's ridiculous. They assume "nature" made a mistake...heh...talk about hubris.

You play music on Broadway, I think more than a lions share of folk here would say you were a musician (not that it matters...). I think we coule open up the category to anyone that makes music....hell, anyone that LIKES music as far as I could care. We don't get a decoder ring or anything cool for "being a musician" right?

[Zero G]

This reminds me of reading about classification of species. Scientists make the categories (like mammal, reptile, etc.) and then put everything in these artificial categories, and THEN occasionally find a creature that "is one of mother natures mistakes" (how arrogant) because it doesn't fit neatly into the categories they themselves made. It's ridiculous. They assume "nature" made a mistake...heh...talk about hubris.


No offense, but I've never heard any scientist say this. Have you got any links to credible peer-reviewed journals or other resources that can corroborate what you've said? Not saying that's not the case - I just haven't heard of that occurring. :)

[epluribus]

Both. Funny thing about pro credentials...

I have a bud who's a household world in pro opera, recently retired, now teaching it as a prof. He knows most of our local theater groups and has heard me sing (and play) on many occasions. By his definition we're not only musicians, our work is often more passionate about it than the "pros."

Funny notion, that. My biggest amateur gig for years has been design, particularly stage sets and residential design. A friend who owns a prominent entertainment design firm (if you've been to the movies or turned on a television in the last thirty years you've seen his stuff) always tells me that guys wish their hearts were still in it like ours.

Does that make me good, or schooled? Probably not, or modestly so at best. But do those guys think I'm a musician or a designer? Hm...maybe they're just humoring an old bud eh? :)

Incidentally, I run into guys who do what I do for a living, only they do it for a hobby. In many cases, their involvement and enthusiasm far surpasses mine, even if their schedules and paychecks don't. With them, it's a life, not a profession. I often think they fit the definition more profoundly than I do.

So color me Both. :beer

--Ray

[StompBoxBlues]

No offense, but I've never heard any scientist say this. Have you got any links to credible peer-reviewed journals or other resources that can corroborate what you've said? Not saying that's not the case - I just haven't heard of that occurring. :)

Sorry...I can't provide a link to peer reviews, etc. . I do however clearly remember reading it in textbooks in school, seeing it said on nature programs, etc.

In the cases I recall it was always that they didn't fit neatly. I believe also I have seen it not just in category of species, but physics as well.

I realize, this is not the same as saying "scientists believe..." and maybe real zoologists, etc. are very clear over the artificial categorizing, but have read others say some do think this way, and definitely people interested in the field do..

EDIT to add:

Actually...googling, I was remembering the Platypus. It doesn't "fit" into the categories.

http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2008/05/09/platypus-genome-shows-beauty-is-more-than-skin-deep.html

"With a face only a mother could love—and a body to match—the duck-billed platypus is truly a freak of nature."

"Although it's categorized as a mammal, the platypus doesn't fit neatly into any of the usual zoological classes. It lays eggs but also nurses the hatchlings; it has a duck's bill and webbed feet; males have spurs to deliver snake-like venom; and adults are toothless."

Which is pretty directly (and this is just one example, I've seen this time and again) stating that somehow NATURE made a mistake, it isn't that the classification is actually artificial.

[Jahn]

I am the duck-billed platypus of guitar players.:D

[StompBoxBlues]

I am the duck-billed platypus of guitar players.:D

:aok Me too...

[Gham]

Purely for my enjoyment and I do love it,it's a great hobby for me

[Jahn]

Rock On!

http://www.matthewtak.com/Images/Platypi_gutar_large.jpg

[boldaslove1977]

there was no option for "hack who gets paid to play cheesey covers 3 nights a week while still working a 50-hour-a-week day job."

if there was... that's what i'd click.

[campfirehero]

Non profit Musician/Sandwich Artist

I didn't start playing guitar until 35 after having two kids and my golf career was over...

[epluribus]

Rock On!

http://www.matthewtak.com/Images/Platypi_gutar_large.jpg

Where on earth did you find that? An original? Nice...brings tears to the eyes...

--Ray

[amphog]

I am more passionate about my hobby than my job, and chose a path that would seperate the two.

[The Golden Boy]

I play music.

[Tonekat]

When I'm a member of a band, I consider myself a musician, but I'm more likely to tell people that "I just make noise" since I am not the type to sit down and entertain people with it as a soloist.

[MikeSRV69]

I'm a musician. Playing live and teaching are my income.