I'll tell you what I think; the first thing you do is give up the day job. Now you have to earn ALL of your living from music. Then you pound the pavement.

Figure what kind of gigs you might be able to take and try every flipping one of them. If you're not good at some of them, figure out how you can get better at them and keep trying. Obviously the ones you are good at, keep booking.

You build on your successes. You turn over every stone. Look at where the players you want to follow are working and figure out how to get booked there too.

Always develop your music; if you're a writer, keep writing. If you're a folklorist, keep researching and learning new material. Figure out how to "tell the tale" and hold an audience's attention.

You've got work at it - and I mean every minute of the day. The booking is the hardest part for me. I still hate it, but I do it constantly. I've been earning a living at it for over just under 10 years and I still struggle - but I love it.

Good luck