how professional musicians are elevated as elites.

If you said "competent performers" you might be closer. And yes, competent performers are better than incompetent ones. Skillful people are part of the capability elite.

I have spent 40 concentrating on becoming a good musician. I am one of the elite. People who don't put in the time and care aren't. Go figure. It sounds like you get turned down for so many gigs that you're trying to turn it into a plot to keep out poor performers. News flash: it's not a plot. It's just the way the world is. People who are better at their craft get more opportunities to display it. Go figure.

And just to head off your next stupid response, I don't think I'm a better person because I'm a good musician. All it means is that I'm a better musician than many. I also spend time encouraging, teaching, and playing with musicians who are less skilled than I, because I think that passing it on is very important. Does that make me part of the altruism elite? I've also spent a lot of time organizing festivals and concerts. I do this because I'm good at it and it needs doing. Does this make me part of the well-organized elite?

You, Conrad, are yourself an elite -- you're part of the beer-drinking elite. You're trying to keep non-drinkers and light drinkers from being part of the folk experience. You elitist! Stop it right now!!