How do you define a Professional Musician?

I think the term professional denotes that one is able to make a living at it.

If you have to work part time or even full time in a non-music job, then you are merely a person who plays music as a hobby. The hobby may pay, but it is still as a hobby.

Once you are at a point where you don't need to work outside of the music industry to earn a living, you are a professional.

The one who has proper education and makes a living out of it. And certainly the one who can read note sheets

One who makes his living playing music.

Although the specifics may vary with the genre ( exceptional reading, versus incredible ear, and reliance upon EITHER one - not both - as the definer) a professional is someone who works at and therefore gains the majority of their income and employment from activities that can only be done by someone with that level of expertise and experience. I am a really good cook - but could NEVER stand the demands of being a chef, no matter how much I learned. But I have made every single dollar in my entire life in professional music performance, studio teaching, school music direction (full-time from 1971 to 2005) and music festival adjudication. This follows my earning 3 degrees from respected conservatories. So - I think I meet your standards. Throughout the months I have read your questions, though, YOU seem to have some kind of hang-up about NOT reading music. Do you think YOU could have done better had you added that skill to your arsenal - as some people add an additional instrument?

A "professional musician" (be it a singer or a member of a band) is a person who has studied for years to perfect his craft; is able to sight-read music, signs a contract to appear; and makes his living exclusively by being a paid entertainer. He is NOT a person who plays an occasional gig on the weekend, or gets paid in beers for performing. That is only his side-line or hobby; it is not his sole means of support. At best, he is only an amateur musician.

For example: Garth Brooks is a professional musician/entertainer - that's how he makes his living. In the past, you would have had to describe Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Jim Nabors, Cher, etc., as professional musicians/entertainers. That was and is their sole means of making a living, and they were and are very good at it. What you are describing doesn't even come close.

(Not to say that one has to be 'famous' to be a professional musician. There are plenty of highly trained people who make their living as professional musicians, but never become 'stars' - but the key is that their performance of music is their means of making a living).

i think you just described it

My definition of a professional musician is one that is good at what they do while entertaining people and being paid.

Here is the definition thru the Oxford Dictionary;
pro·fes·sion·al.
[prəˈfeSH(ə)n(ə)l]
ADJECTIVE
1.of, relating to, or connected with a profession:
"young professional people" ·
synonyms: white-collar · nonmanual
2.(of a person) engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime:
"a professional boxer"
synonyms: paid · salaried
NOUN
1.a person engaged or qualified in a profession:
"professionals such as lawyers and surveyors"
synonyms: white-collar worker · office worker



























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You, my friend, are a professional musician. If you've ever played for money, you're a professional.