I worked in advertising/marketing/PR for a long time, and from time to time, one or another of my music friends would corner me and ask me for some professional advice--here it is:

If you want to make money playing music, you have to find the a paying audience, then you have to turn what you know how to do into something that the paying audience likes--

To a lot of musicians, especially folk musicians, that sounds a lot like selling out--which I suppose it is--on the other hand, if you decide you want to make your living playing music, you are going into business--

Years ago, when I lived in Philly, I knew a guy who had a shop that sold all the notions that are used in making women's foundation garments--basically, a lot of little clips, hooks, pads, bits of elastic, and trim--very boring stuff. I asked him why he didn't move on to something more interesting--

He laughed, and told me:"Selling is selling, don't make no difference what it is. It's about with people--They come to you because they need something--you got what they want, you make a buck."