Guest 999-

I am many things-What is a "working" musician>?
Some of them are-

1. Visionary Artcar Artist- I accept money when offered.

2. I design and play Visionary musical instruments- Horn Hats, horn coat, horn cars- I accept money when offered.

3. I play tin whistle and Bones and alto horn and trumpet and "rough music" and sing. I accept money when offered

4. I am a storyteller and accept money when offered.

5. As a folklorist I have mastered and conduct rituals of celebration and accept money when offered.

6. I provide seasonal celebration events open to the public at no charge periodically throughout the year but accept donations when offered.

I do lots of things. My favorite example- I grow wonderful finger nails I guess I would take money when offered but I would surely not call it work or demand payment.

Some say I do things very well- some believe and have said at a professional level. Whatever that means is in the eye of some beholder and not from the perspective of any tradition as traditions would not care how well it is done just that it is being done.

Is all of this working- well .....lets see I could not do it while sleeping.

Those who know me will know that I believe that the folk world is a spectrum of many valid dimensions with each dimension of equal value.
As for songs and music- doesnt matter how well a song is played or sung what matters is that it is sung. My mind can fill in the gaps quite well. Traditions are bigger than money making, individuals, politics. We owe traditions an independence from worldly concerns as traditions are mysteries bigger than our petty desires.

So a quick response forgive me if it is unclear as it is an infinite topic of wonder and amazement for the most part.

Conrad