What Amateur or Professional REALLY Means!
The word 'amateur' has degenerated in status in the English language.
Amateur has come to mean: unskilled, bungler, a hobbyist a layman, inexperienced and inept. It was not always so.
Traditional meaning of Amateur was 'a lover of....' it was person of taste, refined, sophisticated, afficionado, connoisseur, cultured, epicurean. In these long bygone days: an Amateur would not take money for her/his passion. It might even be an insult! It did not refer to quality! By contrast, a Professional would take money for what they do.
Thus in order to distinguish themselves from amateurs (such as in guilds) it came to mean instructed, businesslike, at a minimum standard, expert, skilled, competent.
Those who have worked with 'professionals' in theatre know well that not all are - also, many amateurs are truly professional in the modern sense since talent, high standards and dedication might be found anywhere!
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