Mandolin Player, Mandolinist, Mandolin Dude?

[zedmando]

Just out of curiosity--how do you describe yourself in regards to playing mandolin?

With guitar I use guitarist & guitar player interchangeably, and same with bassist & bass player, but mandolinist sounds different.
maybe I'll stick with mandolin dude...

[Dave Hanson]

A musician ?

Dave H

[zedmando]

Well that too--but I was thinking musician is general, instrument is specific.
I do use musician to describe myself as well.

[Randi Gormley]

I guess I'd go with "I play mandolin" but if I needed to claim it as an adjective (adverb?) I'd say I was a mandolinist. But, you know, I don't play bluegrass. So the 'mandolinist' sounds pretty reasonable when I'm playing classical. I imagine I could say 'mando dude' or 'mandolin man' if I wanted someone to look at my 4-foot-10-inch, female frame and blink. Mandolinist is a little less gender-based.

[AlanN]

Certain instruments beg for certain labels. Cellist, violist, pianist. I call myself a picker. If someone wants more detail, I provide it.

[mtndan]

I like to call myself a Mando Whacker.

[Ron McMillan]

I like to call myself a Mando Whacker.

...........and I was just going to say 'anything that doesn't involve the dreaded mando abbreviation'. :-)

[Denny Gies]

I'm with Randi.

[AlanN]

Hold the phone...

[JeffD]

mandolinner

[Timbofood]

I'm with Ron.

[Sweetpea44]

I imagine I could say 'mando dude' or 'mandolin man' if I wanted someone to look at my 4-foot-10-inch, female frame and blink. Mandolinist is a little less gender-based.

Haha! Me too! Maybe I should say 'mandolin lady' .... I generally just tell people I play the mandolin.

[DataNick]

I play the man'lin...

[Jim Gallaher]

When I was in a bluegrass band, I referred to myself as the "manlin picker".

[bobby bill]

mandolinner

I presume you preface that with, "Ich bin ein . . ."

[Beanzy]

I'm a mandolinist or a mandolier.

[sblock]

Mandogod.

...as opposed to God do man.

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

Just don't call me.... ukeleleist

[multidon]

I describe myself as a multi-instrumentalist. Alternately, a jack of all trades and a master of absolutely nothing.

Yeah, I know that contributes nothing to the discussion but rather just avoids the entire conundrum. But if I were in a formal setting such as a recital or other such performance, and had to be listed in a program, I would think mandolinist would be proper. I would likewise list it that way on a recording credit. In less formal settings such as jams, I think mandolinist would sound pretentious and mandolin player would be more appropriate.

It's all good though. Call me whatever you want, just don't call me late for supper.

[Emmett Marshall]

Certain instruments beg for certain labels. Cellist, violist, pianist. I call myself a picker. If someone wants more detail, I provide it.

But "picker" could cause much confusion. There's apple pickers, cotton pickers, and even nose pickers. I would have to ask for some elaboration.

[zedmando]

I guess I'd go with "I play mandolin" but if I needed to claim it as an adjective (adverb?) I'd say I was a mandolinist. But, you know, I don't play bluegrass. So the 'mandolinist' sounds pretty reasonable when I'm playing classical. I imagine I could say 'mando dude' or 'mandolin man' if I wanted someone to look at my 4-foot-10-inch, female frame and blink. Mandolinist is a little less gender-based.

Mandolin Dudette?
I was more referring to myself with the dude thing...

[Givson]

I like mandolinist.

[Barry Wilson]

I'm with multidon. I bring 4 instruments to a gig, 3 minimum. and not always the same ones hehe

[Pete Jenner]

A hopeless wannabe with a nice mandolin.

[Roger Moss]

A hopeless wannabe with a cheap mandolin.