Playing any style of music in bars and any remaining clubs seems to produce worse returns than washing the glasses in such establishments.
The people who, at least up until recently, were making decent fees from playing were the function bands who play up-market weddings etc. and corporate events.
Forget folk and rock, get yourself a cabaret act.Locally, I can think of a duo who do a Noel Coward tribute, a fun time covers band who turn up wearing Fezzes and sungasses, and a guy who impersonates Gene Pitney in the first set, and Roy Orbison in the second.
They are earning about eight times the fee you mentioned.
Cheers
Dave