Pedal C

I think a lot of the disagreement here is really over the definition vs. connotation of the word "work." As a kid, I always got the impression that my dad kind of hated his job (office type job) and he always talked about "going to work," "after work," etc... So I've always had a very negative view of the words "work" and "job." Personally, I avoid using those words when I have a gig or rehearsal, but I also know that it's just MY screwed up impression of a couple of words. Being a great musician takes a tremendous amount of work and so does having a successful career as a musician (the first doesn't always lead directly to the second!).

To help me stay positive about music and playing the trumpet and practicing etc, etc, etc, I don't think of it as "work," because it calls up those old feeling of my dad not enjoying his work, but that doesn't mean I don't work hard at it. Another annoyance of mine is musicians who approach playing music with no more passion or enthusiasm as a clerk punching a time clock...but that's another discussion. Avoiding that attitude it important to me, and the words I choose to use helps me with that.

On the business side, my own feelings about a couple of words are totally irrelevant. Non-musicians need to know that it's work and we provide a service just like a plumber or lawyer. We've worked hard to be in a position to perform and we deserve to be compensated for it and I'm totally with Wilmer and others on that.

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"The oboe's A is to make sure we still play it 1 and 2" - Bud Herseth

"One way or another, every patient stops bleeding." - Scrubs