I've never gigged but I've been a salesman and it seems that making music for money is basically salesmanship. I believe about everything is salesmanship -- you want to persuade someone to accept what you're offering.
And while some picture a salesman making sales calls, most of the time and effort goes into setting up the appointments, doing the paper work, getting the merchandise into the customers hands, etc. Watch 'Glengarry Glen Ross' and realize that the real estate hucksters could be folkies scratching for a gig.