Even talented accomplished musicians often need a "day job" to sustain their lifestyle. The era of live performers at all occasions has passed into history. Disc Jockeys now are prevalent at parties and weddings, school and club dances, and of course, discos. Live musicians are now rare except at large concert venues with high ticket prices in big cities, headlining popular stars for whatever genre. Heavy, loud sound equipment and tunes played or sung at ear-splitting volume has replaced acoustic ensembles in small clubs and restaurants. Only the quaint "coffee houses" or church halls host opportunities to see and hear individual artists or groups in an intimate setting. Weekly and monthly folk dances offer excellent local bands for lively interactive entertainment at ridiculously reasonable prices and often feature a pot-luck supper! My urge to perform has been satisfied by playing at New England style Contra Dances. Always with live players and a dance caller, these events carry on a tradition that dates back to colonial days and features tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Scandinavia, Bluegrass, Cajun, Appalachian, Southern, and New England. Contemporary callers and instrumentalists are creating new tunes and the callers invent new sequences and figures to keep the dances from getting stale. Old favorites are still requested from the floor to balance the program. I have been fortunate to share the stage with many fine players and callers. Although the pay is often low and based on the door (attendance), it is so much fun that some of us just sit in and play for nothing. These dances give a player the exposure they need to be hired for better paying gigs, mostly private parties or bigger events and festivals. Networking through the various Folk/Ethnic/Dance communities provides many useful contacts. My vocation as a Luthier affords me a way to make a living in the music industry that is not dependent on just being a player. Some of my friends are music teachers or sound recordists. Most have occupations that are totally unrelated. The talented and persistent will always find someplace to showcase their skills and make a living!