The term "Professional" in the koi hobby....

[aquitori]

I have heard this term "Professional" used many times..Is there such a person? If there is, why? Just wanted to get a understanding of this term.....

[JasonS]

One who makes a living (or at least attempts it) by selling koi or working for a koi dealer is the usual definition.

Like a professional vs amature athlete...

[dick benbow]

i know a few myself. In the UK there's Peter and Den from Infil.

in the states there's Mat Mc Cann from quality koi and Tony and Arthur from Oregon
Koi.

this is by no means an exhaustive list! (lol)

there is a hugh difference between a koi kichi (hobbyist) and someone who
really knows all the aspects of koi. i think the spread is similar to koi breeding. you may start with a ton of eggs, but if you end up with 2-3 top class show fish
you've done well!

[B.Scott]

The term "professional" also implies that someone is very experianced and knows what they are doing. But then the people who build Aquascape ponds call them selves that as well. Caveat emptor... buyer beware. A name is but a name. what you need is REAL knowledge not a title.
"I'm a professional"... I get the urge to run every time I hear it. Too close to "Trust me, I'm a dealer"

B.Scott

[bekko]

Would anyone who makes any amount of money doing anything associated with koi be a professional? If not, where are the cut-off points.

-steve

[B.Scott]

I think if you look purely at the definition of the word... yes. But in general I find it to be quite a grey area. Not sharp divide exists in real life. There are many people out ther who make a living from koi (thus a professional) who don't know squat. On the flip side there are plenty of folks who don't earn a dime (or very little) who are some of the most knowledgable people I have ever met. Many of these people spend vast amounts of time helping others and improving the hobby with little or no compensation.
Who would YOU trust?

B.Scott

[aquitori]

I think professional would be someone who knows everything like JR...or Dick...there are some dealers I would consider professional and some I wouldn't...so instead of using the term newbie it would be rookie for new hobbyist.

[luke frisbee]

professional? Why that term...is this about koi Competitions?

Well it stays on my mind. So when I hear that term I tend to think.

SO? A pro is anyone with better koi than the people putting on the show (and their buddies) who is doing just a little more within the hobby to pay for their addiction.

[aquitori]

Have to admit this hobby is like addiction...So we call the dealers the "Pushers" and the hobbys "Addicts" or "Koiheads".....

[bekko]

A koi dealer is a professional - whether or not it is their sole source of livelihood, whether or not that show a profit at the end of the year, and whether or not they are knowledgable. But, how about someone who imports fish for themselves and buys a few extras to resell to their friends? How about someone who sells a fish to make room in their pond for an upgrade? I agree with B.Scott, its a grey area with no sharp divide and very little guidance.

-steve hopkins