The true meaning of professional is "one who gets paid for their knowledge or skills"

I think you maybe looking for something more like this

"A professional is one who by his skills and knowledge earns his living." It also means someone who is skillful in using the tools and or his/her knowledge to creates something tangible out of what he is given to work with.

There are lots more and Wikipedia says this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional

There are professionals and there is professionalism.

A professional is a person who knows what they are doing. Professionalism is expressed in how that person does what they do.

A pro does not always exhibit professionalism and an non-pro can do things in a very professional manner. Professionalism is not something only relegated to pros.

I think most people refer to professionalism when describing how well a person handles a bad situation. If they are prepared for adverse conditions, handle any problems that come up well and get the problem solved in a calm manner they are generally thought to have acted with a large degree of professionalism. However, if they aren't prepared for the worst, out of control, run around screaming at people, doing everything last minute, they may be considered as having a low degree of professionalism.

Professionals are people who tell children or those that act like children, to keep the chatter down on the "PL" (Private Line) intercom, during a show. That's generally what directors are for and why they are an integral part of any production. Somebody has to be in command. Perhaps it's you the audio person. And I'm sorry to say this, sometimes you have to get downright nasty in these kinds of situations. Not everybody has been raised with proper manners or etiquette such as yourself. That makes your job so much more difficult. And if your job requires proper giving or receiving of cues I would take the position of director, even if the didn't make me very popular. I've had to direct many varieties shows for video. Nobody should have their intercom microphones on if they are not giving directions. If they are you need to instruct them to turn their microphones off! This kind of unprofessional behavior is not tolerated in professional television productions of any kind. If you are the director & you have a good sense of humor, you can not only do your job well, you can be equally entertaining in the process. In one particular musical production I used to do in Chicago once a year, we had a number of old folks falling asleep in the audience. So I would instruct certain camera guys to "go for the geezer". This turned a lovely musical video production into something just shy of a great comedy show. Everybody loved the outcome and it was very popular. Still talked about today, seven years later.

Becoming a geezer myself
Ms. Remy Ann David

pr0gr4m wrote: There are professionals and there is professionalism.

A professional is a person who knows what they are doing. Professionalism is expressed in how that person does what they do.

A pro does not always exhibit professionalism and an non-pro can do things in a very professional manner. Professionalism is not something only relegated to pros.

I think most people refer to professionalism when describing how well a person handles a bad situation. If they are prepared for adverse conditions, handle any problems that come up well and get the problem solved in a calm manner they are generally thought to have acted with a large degree of professionalism. However, if they aren't prepared for the worst, out of control, run around screaming at people, doing everything last minute, they may be considered as having a low degree of professionalism.

I completely agree! I have seen my share of "professionals" acting like children, as well as non-professionals acting very professionally.

I think what separates the true professional from the look-alikes is, when things don't go as originally planned. The level of professionalism will show in who was prepared for the unexpected and can take it in stride without breaking a sweat. Just about anybody can handle a gig that goes off without a hitch.

All together now, the boy scout creed - be prepared. 8-)

Nathan-

I am guessing that a big part of your present problem is that you are dealing with volunteers. They are doing this for recreation and treat it as such. I've had far too many experiences with this. No businessman ever lied, cheated, or stole like someone running a not-for-profit. Well, they probably did, but they weren't as self-righteous about it.

Of course, it's possible that these kids would have no idea how to act even if they were on a job. That might be the case back here in the states, but are you still in Berlin? When I was there (and everywhere else I went in Germany) people in just about any job seemed to adopt a very "professional" manner. That's what prompted my guess above.

According to the professional Engineers of BC:

Members and licensees shall act at all times with fairness, courtesy and good faith to their associates, employers, employees and clients, and with fidelity to the public needs. They shall uphold the values of truth, honesty and trustworthiness and safeguard human life and welfare and the environment. In keeping with these basic tenets, professional members and licensees shall:

(1) hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public, the protection of the environment and promote health and safety within the workplace;

(2) undertake and accept responsibility for professional assignments only when qualified by training or experience;

(3) provide an opinion on a professional subject only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge and honest conviction;

(4) act as faithful agents of their clients or employers, maintain confidentiality and avoid a conflict of interest but, where such conflict arises, fully disclose the circumstances without delay to the employer or client;

(5) uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for the performance of engineering and geoscience work;

(6) keep themselves informed in order to maintain their competence, strive to advance the body of knowledge within which they practice and provide opportunities for the professional development of their associates;

(7) conduct themselves with fairness, courtesy and good faith towards clients, colleagues and others, give credit where it is due and accept, as well as give, honest and fair professional comment;

(8) present clearly to employers and clients the possible consequences if professional decisions or judgments are overruled or disregarded;

(9) report to their association or other appropriate agencies any hazardous, illegal or unethical professional decisions or practices by members, licensees or others; and

(10) extend public knowledge and appreciation of engineering and geoscience and protect the profession from misrepresentation and misunderstanding.

Link555 wrote: Members and licensees shall blah blah blah:
...I try purely because Jesus would.

(1) hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public, the protection of the environment and promote health and safety within the workplace;
...Nope, failed on the first hurdle.

(2) undertake and accept responsibility for professional assignments only when qualified by training or experience;
...I have so much experience I could write it all on a postcard.

(3) provide an opinion on a professional subject only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge and honest conviction;
...Guesswork and chance!

(4) act as faithful agents of their clients or employers, maintain confidentiality and avoid a conflict of interest but, where such conflict arises, fully disclose the circumstances without delay to the employer or client;
...Woohoo, 1/4 so far!

(5) uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for the performance of engineering and geoscience work;
...Wha? I don't get paid for nothin.

(6) keep themselves informed in order to maintain their competence, strive to advance the body of knowledge within which they practice and provide opportunities for the professional development of their associates;
...Does reading RO count? Yeah? Great. 2/6!

(7) conduct themselves with fairness, courtesy and good faith towards clients, colleagues and others, give credit where it is due and accept, as well as give, honest and fair professional comment;
...On a roll here, 3/7!

(8) present clearly to employers and clients the possible consequences if professional decisions or judgments are overruled or disregarded;
...I should moan more sometimes. Maybe I'd have SM58s instead of BrandX XM5s.

(9) report to their association or other appropriate agencies any hazardous, illegal or unethical professional decisions or practices by members, licensees or others; and
...(lift rug) (sweep)

(10) extend public knowledge and appreciation of engineering and geoscience and protect the profession from misrepresentation and misunderstanding.
...Well, I hope I'm not making an ass of Jesus.

*Self Reflection Assessment*
You are 40% professional.
Not the coolest head under pressure and lacking knowledge of the subject matter, but a well-meaning guy.

LOL