Frodo, you sure you don't work for the American Federation of Musicians? They have the same criterion as you, as far as accepting new members and taking their dues money. *BG* (kidding) Just because someone might be a ''union'' musician does not mean they're any good at what they do.

I really think it comes down to standards. To include as many people as possible under the category of musician implies a very loose standard of what constitutes a real musician --but alienates far fewer people. Then again who sets and defines the standards? Peers? Our friends? Our relatives? Ourselves?

It's kind of a circular argument.

As an analogy, if I write:

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I may not be Shakespeare
But neither are you.

..does this make me a poet? In the loosest standard imaginable, yeah okay...but not really.

Do you know what I mean?