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In reply to the discussion: No Amateurs as Democratic Presidential Candidates, Please! [View all]MineralMan
(146,317 posts)Every NFL football player was once an amateur player. Every NBA player, too.
I was once an amateur oboist. I was a pretty damned good one, too. I performed with a number of musical organizations, and even participated in a European tour with one. I was a very competent oboist. I was not, however, able to devote the time required to become a professional oboist who was good enough to win an audition with an orchestra that paid well enough to make it my profession.
My profession was in another field. And yet, at the same time, I was a skilled performer on my instrument. I have no doubt that I could have devoted more time and could have become a professional. I made a different choice, but still performed at a high level with many groups and enjoyed what I was doing.
Because I was not a professional, however, I did not audition for paid positions. I recognized that my level of skill was not at that level, and competition for the few available positions was fierce. I was not qualified to fill one of those spots. Yet, I enjoyed being a musician a great deal, and found many opportunities to perform. I just didn't get paid for those performances, except on rare occasions. I was an amateur.
Amateur status is not something to be ashamed of. It is not a negative word. It is most often a choice made by an individual.