At the conference, the attendees don’t leave their tables. The presenters completely transfix them. And the presenters themselves are fascinated by their counterparts. In the hallways, at dinner, in the elevator, there is awe.

“Did you see Wycliffe? I mean. Man. That’s why we come. That’s why we play,” said co-presenter John Cocuzzi, shaking his head.

In my former life, I traveled from professional conference to workshop to expo — Sometimes I visited two or three a month in our busy season. I’ve seen professional gatherings of tax accountants, colon and rectal surgeons, reproductive health professionals, school librarians — you name it. And at these events, people attended the breakout sessions to learn more, hear more, understand more.

But I’ve never been to a “conference” like the San Diego Jazz Party, which D.J. took me to this past weekend. From a strictly event management standpoint, this event was like many others. For the three-day event each presenter led a session, and attendees paid to join into the sessions. The presenters made their livings in this industry, and the participants wanted to share their expertise.

But the main difference between this professional event and one for say the tax accountant group is one word: Passion. The presenters/musicians weren’t up there simply giving insight into their jobs. They were up there sharing their lives, their souls, their very beings.

I think artists identify themselves with their passions, and sometimes they are fortunate enough to make their livings with that passion. And for most people, our passion is outside our work zone, and we work at a job in order to have the leisure time to pursue our passions.

One would think that a person who earns his living as an accountant might feel that he “works as an accountant” instead of saying, “I am an accountant.”

One would also think that a musician (or another artist, such as a writer) would first say “I am a musician” instead of “I make my living as a musician.”

These are subtle differences, but important ones, and I think they distinguish a simple fact from a deep, interwoven passion. I’ve always been a writer. Recently, I’ve begun to make my living as a writer. And for that I’m very, very grateful.