Professionalism

Seth Grodin on professionalism. I flatter myself in seeing this as another angle on what I was talking about recently.

Professionalism has a different connotation in the world of stand-up comedy. You're doing a 'professional gig' when you get paid (when you're starting out this happens rarely). You get to call yourself a 'professional stand-up comic' when your comedy pays your bills. Every professional comic I know brands themselves thus with pride:-

I made it. I turned my dream into a reality. I get paid to do something I love doing

I suppose that this is the stuff of modern life: to be the guy who followed his dreams. Still, I'm reminded of a quip made by Marko Mustac, a good friend and an amazing performer and director of improv theatre: -

If you want to get amateurs to behave properly you accuse them of being 'unprofessional'

Works every time. Just don't try it on actual professionals.