OK - maybe the music world is different in the UK, so perhaps my comments are not appropriate to this discussion.

When I first decided to give up the day job and start working full-time as a musician (a FOLK musician) I jokingly told my wife that if I could only work 1,500 nights a year I would do alright!

As it turns out, I was only half joking. I work now all over the US and I still have to say yes to just about every gig that's offered. I work in town, when I'm home - at low paying jobs and private functions and I work on the road at every spot I can when I'm traveling from concert or festival to concert or festival. It never ends and I can never retire. BUT I can make a living; pay my mortgage and keep the lights on.

As for the taxman I list my occupation simply as musician. I have no income from any source other then performing. My chosen field of music is folk. I suspect there are quite a few of us in the US.

Tom Bliss - we have room for ya here. Come on over!