The hard work but longest strategy is to learn from those who are not paying taxes.

Find out what your allowable expenses can be (professional help suggested) then be scrupulous about how much money you dont make. Travel, lodging, food, instruments, promotion are all expenses that most folkies don't keep track of. Subtract your allowable costs and see how much money you are really talking about.

The press is always eager to talk about tax avoidance like people are criminals but if there was ever a tally of the tax deductions people _dont_ claim, the unimployment _not_ collected I think people would be astounded at the number.

S