In which Elbie wonders how her brain works sometimes...
The head alto sax player in the band (hell, the head sax player period as far as I'm concerned - Bill is good) came into the store today to putter around, and said he'd like me to join a smaller ensemble made of some of the "stronger players" (his words, not mine!). Mainly because they need a solid bottom-note player. But also because they like me, they really like me! (Oops, my self-esteem issues are showing a bit. *pulls hem down*)
I told Andy this, and he responded with enthusiasm: "Will you guys be playing paying gigs?"
And I responded with the truth: that the thought of being A Professional Musician* never crossed my mind. (Well, outside of daydreams involving Harry Connick Jr's band and a Selmer Mark VI bari sax with a Rousseau hard rubber mouthpiece and Rovner inverted ligature. Whoops, there go the non-musicians!) The thought of being asked to play in a sparkly new group with new music and people I had a good time with? That was what I was excited about.
It got me to thinking: am I odd for not looking into being paid to do what I like to do? Is it strange that I'm in it for the music and camaraderie, not always in that order? Should I consider financial compensation? Am I good enough to do so?
How thrilling would it be to have the title of Professional Musician?
Maybe I'm thinking too much into it. I'll definitely join up and practice and hang out and all that jazz (literally and figuratively). If we have an opportunity to play for cash, why not? But I just wanna hang out with a bunch of other band folks. If I'm missing a/the point of playing an instrument, so what? I'm having fun. You can have fun in life and not see monetary results. Right?
That said, I can't wait for next week when I'm totally healed up and can play again.
*-defined here as "a musician that is paid money - not by way of a scholarship, but something to take to the bank - to play his/her instrument"
I told Andy this, and he responded with enthusiasm: "Will you guys be playing paying gigs?"
And I responded with the truth: that the thought of being A Professional Musician* never crossed my mind. (Well, outside of daydreams involving Harry Connick Jr's band and a Selmer Mark VI bari sax with a Rousseau hard rubber mouthpiece and Rovner inverted ligature. Whoops, there go the non-musicians!) The thought of being asked to play in a sparkly new group with new music and people I had a good time with? That was what I was excited about.
It got me to thinking: am I odd for not looking into being paid to do what I like to do? Is it strange that I'm in it for the music and camaraderie, not always in that order? Should I consider financial compensation? Am I good enough to do so?
How thrilling would it be to have the title of Professional Musician?
Maybe I'm thinking too much into it. I'll definitely join up and practice and hang out and all that jazz (literally and figuratively). If we have an opportunity to play for cash, why not? But I just wanna hang out with a bunch of other band folks. If I'm missing a/the point of playing an instrument, so what? I'm having fun. You can have fun in life and not see monetary results. Right?
That said, I can't wait for next week when I'm totally healed up and can play again.
*-defined here as "a musician that is paid money - not by way of a scholarship, but something to take to the bank - to play his/her instrument"