Two suggestions about professionalism:

It's an ongoing topic on the Footstompin list, as applied to the Scottish context - a particular sore point being the way the Scottish Executive is funnelling money towards musical enterprises that aim to turn a profit and away from community-based projects. This can get acrimonious, only toned down by the moderator's ban on outright obscenity.

Jacey Bedford runs a forum for professional folkies in the UK. It's a closed list (I've never considered that the income I've had from music would be enough to qualify me to get on it) but it might be worth asking her if she could relay relevant queries, if you want the pro's view of professionalism.