Are there any actual professionals here?

And just to balance the picture out, I'm one of the regular contributors here who believes he could be called 'fully professional' by all the above definitions. I consider I've had good training, although not in any formal sense - I never graduated from any institution, but rather quit one when I was offered full time performing work, and have remained too busy to consider going back. (I've since been employed by several institutions, including the one I never graduated from. So hardly any point going back as a student, really!) I consider I make 'a full living' out of theatre arts, in the sense that that is the biggest income category on my tax returns, and I could eat and pay my mortgage from my earnings in the arts. (so I fit his definition of 'pro', Na). That's not to say I don't sometimes earn an income from other activities that interest me: teaching students, writing music, driving a tour bus...but in fact even these jobs often fall under the banner of being employed in the theatre. I sometimes do other stuff that is in no way related to arts...leading tourists on kayaking trips for instance...because it's fun and I enjoy it. I make less on all of these 'other jobs' put together than I do from any one arts job, so I'd say that counts as being an arts professional. And similarly, I will sometimes be found participating in 'amateur' work, not because I can't get other work but simply because I enjoy it and it seems worth doing. I do it all from Perth. Although I've worked around Australia, and many times overseas, I've always found enough work to sustain me in Perth and have no real intention of looking elsewhere. But I am a jack of all trades. Professionally I've acted on stage, on camera, and behind a microphone. I've composed, arranged, written lyrics, played live, sang, recorded. I've operated sound, lights, Stage Managed and ASM'd. I've been a Production Manager, Tour Manager, Director, assistant Director, and Musical Director. I've been a fight choreographer. A clown. I've been paid for improvising, I've been paid for creative development, I've contributed to writing. I've effectively been a dramaturg. I've driven the truck. I've painted the set. I've built props. I've climbed ladders, I've operated the follow spot. I've professionally reviewed. I've been a drama coach, a workshop facilitator, an M.C. I've worked in Front Of House. I've been the safety diver/water safety officer. I've been the guy inside the furry mascot..! (I once played a fetid dingo, Muzz!) All paid. I've developed many aptitudes, but I can't say I would've gotten this far without attitude, so I'm not sure I agree with JoeMc that it tends to be forgotten in professional theatre. Success due to attitude applies to any endeavor, professional or not. But doing it every day?? Stuff that! Any chance I can get, I'd rather be doing anything else that's NOT theatre related. Sure, I love it, and I tend to live it, but a heck of a lot of the important skills...technical and people-related...that I've brought to my work have been learnt through pursuits that weren't necessarily anything to do with acting or theatre. So I think, yes, Terminal Pharmacy, we do have different standards. I'm wondering if yours aren't mainly based on a conceptual ideal of what you think a professional 'should' be? Mine are perhaps rather specific, but at least based on accurate experience of what one IS. Cheers, Craig ~<8>-/====\---------