I first saw Zoe Mulford a couple of years ago, doing a floor spot at Chorlton FC; she'd recently moved over here from the States. She had a bit of a professional air about her, & I wasn't surprised to learn that she'd built up a bit of a performing c.v. (or résumé) over there. I see her name around the place fairly regularly now. I saw her again the other night - doing a floor spot at Chorlton FC. (She plays a mean banjo.)

There is no, rpt no, quick route to making a living on the folk scene. There is a long and hard road to getting bookings fairly regularly, but an awful lot of that road is the same road you'd travel if you were a rank amateur like me. I'd say your first step is just to get out there and sing and play - there are lots of opportunities to do that. Get yourself known that way, and then start talking to organisers - a lot of whom, by that stage, you'll already know. But don't give up the day job.