Well, I've taken the first two steps down the road to being a starving musician. I went to 4 different music shops during this past week, and actually bought one yesterday. This is the first guitar I've had that cost over $50.
Then tonight the guys in the band were rehearsing, so I went along to work things out with them. We figure out what songs would I (we) would play and where in the set list they'd be, then ran thru them a couple time. It was really an experience to start playing something and by the second verse have 5 guys supporting you. It was a rush.
It was also fun to watch the antics these guys do when there no audience around. Y'all were right - I had fun and was hardly nervous at all. Hopefully the gig will go as well.