What makes you Pro ? ? (not what you think)

[Coradion]

waaaay overboard.

To be honest, for the longest time I didn't even know of Melissa, I went just "who?" when people kept mentioning her.
And I never was impressed with her swimming videos either, because in my eyes, she lacks the magical, true mermaid feel that Hannah possesses.
For me, Hannah = real mermaid, Melissa = human girl swimmer wearing a tail costume.

I don't want to spark a "who is better"-debate here, because I know this is totally subjective, I just wanted to mention not everyone is equally impressed by the gals just because they have media coverage.

(I bet I'm not alone with my opinion though, because on Hannah's greatest videos, there are always the same people commenting stuff like "can you even swim without moving your knees?? because Melissa can!!", and that speaks volumes really.
You can virtually see the venom of envy drip of those lines. )

Not really overboard. We can call them whatever we want... I idolize people who are creative, push their bodies to the limits for swimming, and actually do something in the marine environment. Is it limited to people who get media coverage? Nope, they were just the easiest examples to pick out. I think that PearlieMae and Jessica are amazingly talented after seeing their tail sculpting and just the ideas they put into it. People who actually create things impress me. Same with people who take an active interest in doing good. Not just talk about it on the internet, but go out and volunteer like Ayesha. Those are people I think I'll definitely perceive as mer goddesses one day.

[PearlieMae]

Thanks! I can't wait to put it into action. But miles to swim before I sleep!

As it's been pointed out throughout this discussion, there is a bit of a disconnect between the practical definition or 'professional' and a subjective, aesthetic perception of the phrase... I think we've all agreed on that point.

[Jessica]

Not really overboard. We can call them whatever we want... I idolize people who are creative, push their bodies to the limits for swimming, and actually do something in the marine environment. Is it limited to people who get media coverage? Nope, they were just the easiest examples to pick out. I think that PearlieMae and Jessica are amazingly talented after seeing their tail sculpting and just the ideas they put into it. People who actually create things impress me. Same with people who take an active interest in doing good. Not just talk about it on the internet, but go out and volunteer like Ayesha. Those are people I think I'll definitely perceive as mer goddesses one day.

^thanks Coradion

I've been following this thread....and all the drama... Here's the thing....being a professional in an area doesn't necessarily make you successful. For example, I used to work in the mortgage industry and I wore black pants and heels everyday and was considered a business professional. I worked with lawyers, real estate agents and in conjunction with all the big banks (I worked for a broker). The thing most people don't know is that a lot of people in this industry are paid by commission, like I was. If you don't close a loan, you don't get paid. I had just started in the industry right before the market crashed and I literally could barely keep food on the table and a leaky roof over my head. Was I successful? No, I don't think I was at all. Was I a professional? Yes. I was good at my job but I had to turn down hundreds of applications for every loan I could do. It was maddening...

So...my point is that the term "professional" is really meaningless the way I see it. It doesn't necessarily indicate success and I don't think we need to define mermaids by it because it simply doesn't do justice to all of the incredible mermaids in the world.

The way I see it....who cares who calls themselves the "worlds leading mermaid" or "professional mermaid"? It doesn't impact me at all or change the way I view myself as a mermaid. Furthermore, I view being a mermaid as a form of art.....not as a job. I'm not a mermaid because I want to make money (although it would be nice) I'm a mermaid because it makes me happy. As the old saying goes...find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life. When I put on my tail, I get to bring mythology to life. I get to make adults smile, children squeal and most of all, I get to fulfill a need that I never realized I had.

Being a mermaid is simply living, breathing art. Call it professional if you must.....but I think "artist" is a much better term for what we do.

[SeaGlass Siren]

Jessica...

http://fsymbols.com/images/crying-meme.gif


THAT was the most beautiful and touching post I've ever read today.

[MermaidRanoria]

I think many people have made great points in their responses. In my opinion I think in order to define a "professional" we not only need to look at the hard definition to what "professional" means but also define "armature" as well. As these terms are the exact contrast to each other I think it gives a vary defined picture of what being a professional in any field requires. Armature obviously not being used in a derogatory since.

It is like the chicken and egg syndrome. What comes first the mermaid or the entertainer? The tail doesn't define your professionalism why should rubbing shoulder with celebs or free diving? Its a gimmick no mater how you use it. I wouldn't ask an extremely well known mermaid with a huge set of skill to entertain a bunch of a 8 year olds. Well, I guess I could but the cost would be more exorbitant than what my demands require. When that person showed up I surely wouldn't suggest or cry about how upset I was that I couldn't afford or book a "professional mermaid." Maybe some people would, but those are people in vary poor taste in my opinion.

Either way I'm not really saying anything that anyone else hasn't already said, but for me I feel i have a bit of a more unbiased about the statements as I am not heavily involved with the activity or the community yet. I do however have lots of professional experience in multiple fields from fish taxidermy to owning my own business. Why should professional mermaiding be the exception?

she just said others aren't mermaids if they can't free dive like her.

I'm not really sure of the context of this quote as I am not familiar with this person. Assuming they realize that mermaids are not real, comparing themselves to people that don't actively obtain the skill set of free diving sounds rather insecure. I don't know how many of you replying are professional mermaids, but I can see how this would side swipe anyone off guard. I see it more as a showing of character rather than insult if she meant exactly what she said. No offense to the person who made the original statement. I'm sure they're wonderful person. Sometimes we all get a case of fin in mouth so its possible it just came out completely wrong.

[AniaR]

Just FYI every extremely well known mermaid still does kid parties hehe..

And I agree who gets to decide what real mermaids are when they aren't real... Lol

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[Merman Dan]

"Second, there are, like, thirty Ray's Pizzas. They all claim to be the original. But the real one's on 11th." - Santa

[MermaidRanoria]

Just FYI every extremely well known mermaid still does kid parties hehe..

And I agree who gets to decide what real mermaids are when they aren't real... Lol

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Maybe we all have it wrong! Maybe not even human like at all. Fish on bottom, elephant on top!

My intention wasn't to imply that well known mermaids won't or can't do kids parties. Just drawing a comparison that the overwhelming majority of employers/clients will seek out a professional that fits their needs at the fairest pay/price they can find. The common denominator of getting paid once again.

Unfortunately, there is no mermaid super center where potential clients can just go choose one off the shelf or online based on their event's needs, place them in their basket, then check out. Until mermazon.com exists hiring professional contractors in the field is the most popular way it seems. Contractors are professionals too! lol

[AniaR]

... MermaidTales.net exists lol

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[AniaR]

I was scrolling through tumblr and found this great gifset:

[Mermaid Oshun]

best wishes to all professional mermaids. Kudos to you

[TheChimera]

i see what both raina and coradion are saying. and i personally think they're saying the same thing... i think it's just "expressing of ideas" and "ideas being interpreted differently" that's been happening.

Gaiiiiiis stahhhp it. o-o stahhhhhhhp

sorry couldnt resist

[Mermaid Melanie]

I read an awful article with another mer heavily dissing the mer community, saying there are only five really good mermaids and she is one of them, the rest are no good which I thought was pretty harsh but I guess some people need to be like this - talk themselves up a great deal to feel better about whatever insecurities they have…

[AniaR]

That same mer literally spammed my page yesterday asking me to share hers. She has been sucking up to me since she started.

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[PearlieMae]

I thinkI may have gotten the same thing on my FB page. I'm thinking who the fuck are YOU???

[AniaR]

Us poor unprofessional lowly mers... That they keep coming to for advice and publicity.

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[shimmygoddess]

This is a debate we have in our dance community as well. Also 'professional' vs. 'professionalism' are different in my opinion too

[Firemaid]

I never said I was contacted by them. I have told you repeatedly that I used the word aquarium because I didn't realize there WAS A Difference between that and oceanarium. But apparently you ignored those posts and keep calling me a liar despite my offering to forward you the emails, the contact name and phone number of the person who contacted me. You seem to have a habit of arguing with me and then never reading my replies where I give you all the information you ask for. You go to the bitch thread to passively aggressively complain about me validating myself? (but in a round about way you're doing exactly what you accuse) Lol you've previously called me a liar. Previously said I don't count as a professional and had some pretty vocal thoughts over thinking I shouldn't write a book. You recently told me off in a 2 year old thread because you didn't understand the context. If you're going to continue following me around to be critical about areas in which you have less experience than me ( like working with kids) expect me to respond in kind. Also didn't realizing clowning was the same as dancing and acro work.

You're the pro mermaid police but still using my tutorials eh? ( Dr. Sketchy)

Go complain about me on your other forum. All that goes on there is complaining about me and iona . I haven't even been on it but every met network member messaged me with the b.s. still waiting to be arrested for faking a screen shot over here. ( a screenshot I might add I had nothing to do with sending to mods or taking) please. Tell me more . They also made their other forum when I wasn't even ON this one. I didn't use it for months. Had zero activity. So not sure how I bullied anyone into leaving. I wasn't even here. lol. They made a new forum because they were held accountable to the rules here, and didn't like that. However, that forum is the same as yuku. If you slander people, it only takes one click on "legal" for me to remove all the threads. That's the whole reasons why we upgraded to our own. So probably something to look at if you're going to keep calling me a liar for a post you misunderstood.

edit: plus you missed the point of Citrine's whole post. YOU don't get to decide who and what is professional.

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Where is this other forum?