My first paid gig was a concert at my school. I'd been doing floor spots at the school folk club, and when they decided to put on a concert with Martin Carthy they booked a local band as support, and booked me to support the support act! Then Martin cancelled due to a booking mix-up and I got promoted up the bill. I still have the cutting from the local rag which says I "stood in" for Martin - something of an exageration. I got paid the princely sum of £5, which was enough to buy one of Martin's albums and have change over (this was a while ago!)

I wish I still had the contract from when the BBC came to record our folk club - pages of stuff about international royalties and repeat fees, none of which of course ever materialised, and a deduction from my fee of 5p for National Insurance.

The point of this is that the best place to get a gig is somewhere you're already known. Try the local clubs where you already do floor spots. Even if they won't offer you a paid gig, you might get an extended floor spot which is a chance to develop your performing skills and perhaps gain a bit of exposure.