Are KJ's Professional?

[kilith]

Steve I now must find out what do you consider to be "professional"? By definition professional means:

pro·fes·sion·al

/prəˈfɛʃənl/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pruh-fesh-uh-nl]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective 1.following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder. 2.of, pertaining to, or connected with a profession: professional studies. 3.appropriate to a profession: professional objectivity. 4.engaged in one of the learned professions: A lawyer is a professional person. 5.following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime: a professional golfer. 6.making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business: “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.” 7.undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain: professional baseball. 8.of or for a professional person or his or her place of business or work: a professional apartment; professional equipment. 9.done by a professional; expert: professional car repairs. –noun 10.a person who belongs to one of the professions, esp. one of the learned professions. 11.a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional. 12.an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro. 13.a person who is expert at his or her work: You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.

Now I can say there are a lot of amateurs in both the KJ/DJ field but being a singer does not make you a professional. Playing in a band does not make you professional. Being a DJ does not make you professional and being a KJ does not make you professional.

Just because before your name you have lets say "DJ Jeff" this does not make you "professional". When I start my shows whether I am a KJ for that night or DJ is "My name is Jake and I will be your host for the night for the next 5 hours." I do not add DJ or KJ I am their host.

Now whether I am a KJ or a DJ I am professional on both sides of the board. I am not more professional when I DJ over when I KJ. Steve where does this make sense? Am I only professional when I DJ at weddings but when I KJ at a wedding I am not? If my show is always the same rather it be in the bar or at a wedding how am I not a "professional" KJ? I was never trained as a KJ and I was never trained as a DJ. They came as natural to me to do as golf did for Tigar Woods.

Here is what I consider to be a "professional" KJ or DJ:

You must have the love for the music inside and out. If you are in the business just for the money then you might as well get out now. You must look professional as in a nice appearance. Like Alan Ross said: In a bar wear some nice jeans and a nice button down shirt over wearing shorts and t-shirt. Do not under dress a gig but also do not over dress a gig either like as in do not wear a tux to host karaoke at a bar... but do not wear jeans and button down shirt at a wedding. Appearance does not stop with you!!!! Your equipment must also have a good appearance. If that looks bad even if you ARE in a tux... makes you look non-professional. You must ACT professional, this means no swearing over the mic, no ripping down your singers or dancers, keep the show flowing get the crowd into it.

To me if your KJ or DJ does all of the above and more they are professionals.

[bryant]

Ahh, as we try to redifine "Professional"!

It typically means in the American Society an occupation that requires some form of licensure, education, and some qualifying exams to prove to the public that you have demonstrated, at least by way of the above, a certain level of proficeincy in that particular field. However, the word professional, like many other American words, are extremely overused and often times go beyond their originally intended meaning.
Also, because you have all the certifications stated above does not mean that you are better than someone that doesn't, but at it least says that you made the effort
to honor the profession, and are aware of the laws that govern that profession, and are usually the only ones legalized to practice that profession. Karaoke DJ's or any form of music hosting does not require licenses, registration, proof of ability, which simply means that anyone can try it any where. Therefore, not a profession.
Nor a professional.
I am a registered professional engineer by profession and am legally allowed to practice that, charge for it, and guarantee thru liability, my services. Others who are not registered do the same thing, however, illegally, and perhaps even better. If they get caught, regardless of how good their design was, they go to jail, pay fines, or both. I also have a teacher's certification, of which required more schooling, more testing, etc. for me to practice that profession and get paid for it. DJ's do not fall under these strict laws of true professions.

DJ's sort of go under the general category of hobbyist, paid hobbyist, unlicensed trade or occupation, blue-collar worker, semi-skilled laborer, skilled laborer, etc.

[kilith]

Originally Posted by bryant

Ahh, as we try to redifine "Professional"!

It typically means in the American Society an occupation that requires some form of licensure, education, and some qualifying exams to prove to the public that you have demonstrated, at least by way of the above, a certain level of proficeincy in that particular field. However, the word professional, like many other American words, are extremely overused and often times go beyond their originally intended meaning.
Also, because you have all the certifications stated above does not mean that you are better than someone that doesn't, but at it least says that you made the effort
to honor the profession, and are aware of the laws that govern that profession, and are usually the only ones legalized to practice that profession. Karaoke DJ's or any form of music hosting does not require licenses, registration, proof of ability, which simply means that anyone can try it any where. Therefore, not a profession.
Nor a professional.
I am a registered professional engineer by profession and am legally allowed to practice that, charge for it, and guarantee thru liability, my services. Others who are not registered do the same thing, however, illegally, and perhaps even better. If they get caught, regardless of how good their design was, they go to jail, pay fines, or both. I also have a teacher's certification, of which required more schooling, more testing, etc. for me to practice that profession and get paid for it. DJ's do not fall under these strict laws of true professions.

DJ's sort of go under the general category of hobbyist, paid hobbyist, unlicensed trade or occupation, blue-collar worker, semi-skilled laborer, skilled laborer, etc.

Hey now I would be careful with what you says here. Yes SOME DJ/KJ's are hobbyist.

1.following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.
13.a person who is expert at his or her work

Now under that definition it does not say you must have a college degree or some sort of certificate. However a DJ can very much go to some college courses and get a certificate. But by definition you do not need any formal schooling to become a "professional" in any trade or job. Someone who never went to school in your trade might have 10 to 20 + years of experience on you and I doubt they would get into any sort of trouble. When you get a so call by your terms "professional" job you can have 2 years of school and have a certificate and have 15 years experience on top of that and get a better job then someone with a higher degree then you when they have less experience. You do not always need to have any sort of paper to be a "professional" in your trade.

We are not redefining anything here byrant. 10 even 20 years ago you didint need a degree for hardly anything. Michael Dell didn't have a degree when he started to build his computers out of the basement of his home. People that built houses from before time and even now still do not have degrees... they start out as kids doing the crap jobs and work their ways up and then join guilds or unions. You do not need a degree to drive a million pound diesal train for the railroad. In fact it is one of the first jobs you get in the railroad. I consider all these people professionals in their respected professions.

Just because a DJ or KJ do not have a degree in their respected professions there are professional DJ's and KJ's there are also amature DJ's and KJ's. If anything you are trying to redefine what a professional is. If someone is in a profession they could be a professional in their profession. I gave the definition above in one of the posts... read it and it will show that you are wrong that you do not need a degree to be a professional (otherwise I would LOVE to see a professional baseball players or football players degree in playing baseball or football lol)

[bryant]

Ouch. I didn't say you definitely need a certificate or education, I was trying to say that is one typical (but not always), definition in some terms; and also qualified that by saying the word itself is very, very, broad and can actually mean what you want it to.

I wasn't trying to redefine anything, just giving one of the typical definitions (prolly those used by those who do carry licenses and/or certificates). That's all.

I hope I didn't construe any wrong meanings here, if so, my apologies.

It's all good.

[goonie227]

I Guess I aman amature because i do karaoke part time but my show is as good as any in my area, better than most.
Hey guys check out my new signature I finally up graded my backup.

[muzicman144]

I would like to make one last comment on this "professional" thing. I don't think the kj talking about the "obnoxious professional singers" that he is so tired of coming to his shows, really understands. This is not a "professional
singer" you are talking about, but just another second rate karaoke singer with a big head and big mouth, and they don't just appear on karaoke night.These are the same types that give the good singers a bad name just as do the bad kj/dj. I don't run a karaoke show, but do one man shows at clubs on the east coast. When i have the chance to catch a friend's karaoke show, or have time on the road, i like to drop by and see what other people are doing. If i have the free time to do a song on someone's karaoke show, i put my slip in, wait my turn, sing my song, thank the audience and the host. i do not say anything else. Most other "professional" (since that is the term chosen to use here) singers i know do the same. Seems to me that most people in this business have forgotten that "It Is About The Music And Song, not us". We are simply messengers that deliver the song, and, fortunately, some deliver the song much better than others. If not, not one single dj/kj would have a job, "professional" or not.

muzicman144

[muzicman144]

I forgot to mention, We can call ourselves whatever we choose, regardless of the "profession", have numerous pieces of paper that tell us we are or are not "professional", trained or untrained, but the moment we start doing our "profession", you can no longer hide behind the descriptive words, the truth emerges for all watching to see. This is all one needs to remember.


muzicman144