For me, most of the time the gigs came from "Hoots" or "Open-Mike" nights...Word gets around pretty quick if you do a good show. Then they ask you. or, you set up a tour with phone calls or your agent. Or, you ask. Other musicians will speak up for you. I got my start in Canada after flying in from the U.S. and did a "Hoot" in 1967, or thereabouts, at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse in Montreal, where I got seen by "Canada's First Lady of Folk," Penny Lang, who said to John Foley, the manager, "you should give this guy a gig." Then, things took off from there on in...
As far as the tuning thing goes, I personally use about 6 different tunings during a set. The installation of 8 to 1 Grovers facilitated a "quick change" accuracy. Tunings are: Standard, G-tuning, D-tuning, double-D tuning, C-Tuning, E-Tuning. I started doing this after seeing the great Tom Rush do "Panama Limited" on slide. John Hammond does this, as well as countless
bluesmen...Check out Joni Mitchell and Peter Green as well. It requires being able to hear(pitch), and comes with practice. Just like learning a new song. A lot can be done with the acoustic guitar. give a listen to Michael Hedges recordings...See you later...bob