Try doing it in Nashville. I played 3 gigs this week that didn't total $150 combined. Lol, luckily I had a couple that were better than that, but still. Try playing in a western swing band with 6 members, all of whom are absolutely ace players, and making $30 a man. It's insane. And, I suppose if I squander all my savings before I manage to make it here, then I'll do like all the other players do. Go on unemployment through the slow months and spend any savings I do make on really expensive instruments and use it as a writeoff.