Are there any actual professionals here?

What a subject this has opened up. What is a professional - someone who gets paid for delivering their skills? I think I qualify - even earning the odd 10 bob to a quid "lighting" the college hall for dances back in the UK in the late 50's. I have since earnt the odd A$ doing theatre lighting here in Oz but remain an enthusiast in the pro-am theatre world. I remember getting involved the Australian Association of Theatre Technicians in the 70's where a bunch of Melbourne pro techs would rub shoulders with us "amateurs". I realised then that whilst I could learn from these pros's they leant a lot about us.... It was great because we visited theatres such as Her Maj backstage whilst in season. Phil A'Vard was the entrepreneur of the AATT which regrettably fizzed - it was a good greet-and-meet - especially after at the theatre bar or nearby pub (in those days)...... In all of my odd 50 years I have learnt a thing or two which qualifies as experience - of which many pro's today wouldn’t have experienced. I remember going to the Strand showroom in Covent Garden and watch Fred Bentham play his infamous colour music....ah memories......... This was on a converted organ console driving thyristor dimmers etc……. Peter