Don't Worry Folks, I'm a Trained (and Paid), Professional!

Southwestern Virginia is crawling with musical talent. Although there are many venues that host live music, the supply of talented musicians is far greater than the number of places to play. In this "buyers market" venues can get away with paying little or nothing for quality music, however, there are many advantages to hiring true professional musicians.

There's more to being a professional than being paid. Professional musicians work hard at honing their skills, but they also take care of business. Professionals show up and start on time, play long sets, take short breaks, stay sober, and make sure their performance enhances the events at which they perform. They also make sure they have adequate sound reinforcement, they advertise and update their performances on their website, and send their performance schedule to large mailing lists. Professionals bring new business the places they play, thus increasing their visibility and bottom line. Professional musicians should be paid for this service.

Hobbyists and amateur musicians do not play for pay. Their motivation may be to have fun, to socialize or to experience the ego gratification of audience response. I know many amateurs and hobbyists who are as good--or better--musicians than professionals that I know, but because they are not playing for payment, they have no incentive to take care of business.

I often hear stories from venue owners and event coordinators about acts that show up late, play short sets and take long breaks, drink too much, and play too loud. I listen politely, but I often think “You get what you pay for.” To be penny wise is to be pound foolish. Venues and events should look beyond an acts musical talent and what it may cost them. If an act takes care of business, the venue profits and the act should receive fair compensation. If an act doesn't take care of business, they should not be hired and certainly not asked back.

While talent buyers should consider and appreciate an act’s professional qualities. Professional musicians need to respect the risks and costs of hosting musical performances. A thriving and high quality music scene depends on mutual respect between the musicians who make it happen and the places where it happens. All parties concerned should be valued, respected and compensated.

There should and always will be places for amateurs and hobbyists to play. Open mic nights, church picnics, family gatherings, parking lots, opening act slots, and pro-am jams are all excellent places for amateurs to perform. They can get experience if they want to develop their act, and may then graduate to smaller venues and events or showcases as they build a following and hone their professional skills.

Professionals and amateurs should not perform at events or venues that profit from their performance, yet do not compensate them. Too many acts, professional and amateur, are willing to behave like a desperate prom date. They are willing to jump in the back seat and give it away because a promoter whispers "Of course, I love you." If an act wants respect from venues, events and audiences, not to mention the community of musicians, they have to have enough self-respect and courage to demand fair payment for their services. If a venue doesn't want to pay, musicians should walk away.

Venues and events that host music should take into consideration an act’s professionalism and make an honest assessment of what value they add to their bottom line and pay them accordingly. Venues that prey upon musician's need for "exposure" or "experience" are exploiting them. Musicians of any stripe that play for free, when a venue or event profits from their performance, are devaluing the market for all musicians. Remember, exploitation is exploitation, even when you volunteer for it!