Do you play guitar Professionally or for Pleasure

[Boogie]

Professional dumba$$. If I transport my gear in my little, fun car, the cost of the whole shebang would take me about 1000 gigs to pay off. Probably a lot more. This is only about the love of playing live, period. And getting to do it with wonderful people way more talented than me is an honor and privilege. Now, if I could do it and not come home smelling like a dirty ashtray...

 

[Glide-bpm]

I can relate to a lot of that! With the group I've played with the the last seven or so years, we did a great dual lead thing. The other guitarist and I play together so well. No egos, tight harmony playing, trading solos, playing different chord shapes. Just a ton of fun.

I say "did" because the other group members are full time pros and the gigging market is just crap. Nobody wants to pay much money, so I generally don't get the call unless the other guitarist is away for another gig and they need a sub. These people are feeding their kids and paying bills with their share, while I'm blowing mine on guitar gear I really don't need.

The struggle is real if you're a full-timer. I'm glad to avoid the pressure and just play for enjoyment and the occasional fun money. White collar life has other pressures, of course, but hustling a gig to pay bills isn't one of them.

Amen...

I'm looking forward to finally be able to let someone send me a direct deposit check while I play music for fun and for buying strings and other small trinkets full time. LoL!

And @Boogie , most venues here in the Tri-County area around Charleston, SC are smoke free now. I can't remember the last time we booked a smoker establishment!

 

[ScottR]

Thanks. I am pretty special.

Yes, very "special" Indeed... If we could just get ya to stop licking the windows of the bus and eating all glue...man, then you would be even more "special" I couldn't agree more...

Never before seen footage of DTR as a kid....

 

[ScottR]

When we feel the need, we charge a nominal fee, or pass the hat for donations to a worthy cause. We never keep any of the funds, and have raised thousands for various charities/causes. Other gigs there we do for free/fun.
Are we pros? Certainly not, but the fun factor outweighs that word. And people seem to like it.

You guys might not consider yourselves as pros...but you can't deny being friggin champions!!!!

 

[Tonart]

I play ok enough to make my own original songs for a hobby. Then I have the songs placed into Spotify / iTunes. That’s what’s musically meaningful for me at this point in my life.

 

[dmatthews]

You guys might not consider yourselves as pros...but you can't deny being friggin champions!!!!

Champions? I dunno about that, but an opportunity to help those who may not be able to help themselves makes me feel good while I'm having fun.
Nobody wants to watch me play golf, that's for sure!

 

[AaeCee]

Neither.

My playing will never even be used in the same sentence as "professional" (unless there's a 'non' in front of it), and it provides me with more frustration than pleasure. Still, I trudge ahead, and get a modicum of pleasure from the tidbits of progress that inexplicably show up from time to time.

It's kinda like working out, which I do a good bit. I dread and look forward to it all at once, revel in the 'pain and gain' once I've started, can't wait to be done as I approach the end, and bask in the benefits while looking forward to the next session once I'm finished.

 

[bodia]

Neither.

My playing will never even be used in the same sentence as "professional" (unless there's a 'non' in front of it), and it provides me with more frustration than pleasure. Still, I trudge ahead, and get a modicum of pleasure from the tidbits of progress that inexplicably show up from time to time.

It's kinda like working out, which I do a good bit. I dread and look forward to it all at once, revel in the 'pain and gain' once I've started, can't wait to be done as I approach the end, and bask in the benefits while looking forward to the next session once I'm finished.

Preach! We're in the same boat!

 

[Glide-bpm]

In my mind, I'm a hack, but I guess these clowns around here drink enough (or get high enough on Jesus in church) to think I play pretty good.

I'm still convinced on the "hack" theory, because I know the truth...

 

[ScottR]

Neither.

My playing will never even be used in the same sentence as "professional" (unless there's a 'non' in front of it), and it provides me with more frustration than pleasure. Still, I trudge ahead, and get a modicum of pleasure from the tidbits of progress that inexplicably show up from time to time.

It's kinda like working out, which I do a good bit. I dread and look forward to it all at once, revel in the 'pain and gain' once I've started, can't wait to be done as I approach the end, and bask in the benefits while looking forward to the next session once I'm finished.

I totally get that. I not able to lift anymore so playing or attempting to, can be a little frustrating sometimes. But I just wipe my guitar down and put it where I have to see it then walk away. After taking a break to just shake it off, chill for a bit, and then even if it's just 5-10 minutes I do scales and chord changes or I may just noodle away till my fingers and hands just stop working. Then it's usually the last thing I do before I crash at night. I do my exercises last. Locking on the shapes slowly and changing between them. The muscle memory seems to stick better, to me anyway.

Whatever you do don't give up...keep looking foward to the next "breakthough" or what I call "lightbulb moments" those tiny victories are great motivation to keep hammering away at it.

Keep in mind...There are some great folks around here that will go out of there way to help in anyway they can, from my experience.

Disclaimer* I have no idea if what I'm doing actually works, but at least it props up my delusional thinking. So yeah, there's that...

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I totally get that. I not able to lift anymore so playing or attempting to, can be a little frustrating sometimes. But I just wipe my guitar down and put it where I have to see it then walk away. After taken a break to just shake it off, chill for a bit, and then even if it's just 5-10 minutes I do scales and chord changes or I may just noodle away till my fingers and hands just stop working. Then it's usually the last thing I do before I crash at night. I do my exercises last. Locking on the shapes slowly and changing between them. The muscle memory seems to stick better, to me anyway.

Whatever you do don't give up...keep looking foward to the next "breakthough" or what I call a "lightbulb moments" those tiny victories are great motivation to keep hammering away at it.

Keep in mind...There are some great folks around here that will go out of there way to help in anyway they can, from my experience.

Disclaimer* I have no idea if what I'm doing actually works, but at least it props up my delusional thinking. So yeah, there's that...

Once again... I’ve always said, perspective is 90% of reality. I was really down tonight because my hand was hurting and wouldn’t cooperate well enough to please me when I was trying to play 200 mph. Now I feel like an arrogant ass. I’ve told you this multiple times. We need to skype video or something. I promise to help you any way I can to get you to that next “breakthrough.”

 

[ScottR]

Once again... I’ve always said, perspective is 90% of reality. I was really down tonight because my hand was hurting and wouldn’t cooperate well enough to please me when I was trying to play 200 mph. Now I feel like an arrogant ass. I’ve told you this multiple times. We need to skype video or something. I promise to help you any way I can to get you to that next “breakthrough.”

I know buddy, and that is exactly what I was saying. We gotta do that. I really appreciate that my friend! It will be killer to actually play along with another person. I've reached a plateau, and I feel like playing with somone orher than myself...no...wait...that came out wrong...playing with someone else is the next logical step...man...no....wait....gggahhh! nevermind..thanks DTR as always you are a gentleman and a scholar...good lookin out bro!

 

[Bret Trammell]

Professionally since my first paying gig at 17 (in my 30s now). Always in bands, though I recently moved halfway across the country and am dreaming it all up again as a solo guitarist. So, day-jobbing it currently but I have every intention of getting things moving again. The creative process takes time, though. Especially when you are way out of your comfort zone!

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I am the very epitome
Of a bedroom boffin
Lobotomy

 

[Screamingdaisy]

Semi-Pro? Semi-Amateur?

My biggest gigs were as a drummer and a bassist. Played a few arenas and a stadium. Helped write, record and released an Indy album. Been played on the radio and on TV. I wouldn’t call myself a pro because I’ve never had to survive on music alone.

 

[alantig]

Once again... I’ve always said, perspective is 90% of reality. I was really down tonight because my hand was hurting and wouldn’t cooperate well enough to please me when I was trying to play 200 mph. Now I feel like an arrogant ass. I’ve told you this multiple times. We need to skype video or something. I promise to help you any way I can to get you to that next “breakthrough.”

That's a large part of where I've been lately. The hand therapy has helped - I'm at the point that I can do my stretches and get the finger loose enough to play, but it's not always pain-free, and I can see and feel slowness in the finger changing chord shapes. One song I play regularly for fun (meaning I'm not planning on recording it) has a trill between my pinky and index finger, and that still hurts. So it's continue therapy and see a specialist. As down as I get about the situation, I see the folks on here who have it much worse than I do, and I wonder why I'm bitching.

As to the original question, don't play professionally (or out). My most public 'performance' is recording backing tracks for my mother to play with at church (or sometimes other events), and the occasional online video. Pleasure? I'm not sure anyone gets pleasure from my playing.

 

[HANGAR18]

Guitar? I've been sucking at the guitar since the early 80's and had a revolving door on my guitar collection for just as long. Definitely a hobbyist... which is good because after all these years, I don't have to show any progress at all.

Drums on the other hand, while I am a hobbyist with them as well, at least with the drums I got good enough back in the 80's to where I could confidently sit in for a few songs with a friend's band while they played night clubs all over Florida. My living room currently has both drums and half stacks set up and ready to go.

 

[11top]

As my drummer used to say, “We don’t get paid for playing; we get paid for hauling all this sh*t around.”

 

[markd21]

Hmmmm.....

Until March 2018 I played semi-professionally. I say "semi" because our "wages" covered gas and a drink, nothing more. It was more for fun and ego than anything else. I played one last gig in March and then called the "live" portion of my "career" over. I used to miss being between bands, but not anymore. The work/effort just didn't feel satisfying anymore.

These days I write/record tunes that I am working on selling to indie movie makers, YouTubers, etc. It's fun. I am actually using the guitar less and less and falling back more on my skills playing other instruments. I am getting a good bunch of theory workouts while writing orchestral arrangements for some of the piano pieces. It has been WAY more satisfying from a creative standpoint. It's awesomely fun to grab my circle of fifths and develop a progression that is not guitar based, work it out with an arrangement that only uses the guitar as a support rather than the main instrument.

Here's one I did the other day (rough mix) for a potential collaboration I may be doing with an off Broadway vocalist looking to break into original music.

https://soundcloud.com/mdenman/10-14-18a

 

[László]

I’ve made my living in music since 1991. I play guitar on most of the tracks I record for tv ads, documentaries, etc., though I hire great session players for styles I don’t play well (that would be a lot of styles!).

Here’s something I’ve posted before that I wrote for Cadillac. It’s a good example of the stuff I write for picture. I started on piano, then brought in strings, and kind of rocked out for the running footage, then brought it back. I played guitar on this one as well.