One problem {I used to call it "The Problem", & once made it the topic of my monthly Folk Review column & got quite a lot of feedback IIRC} is that of the semi-pro who is so successful that he/she gets 2,3,4 gigs some weeks, involving much work & travel & late nights to bed; but still has to be up for work next morning & do a day's work which will not reflect badly, or cause disappointment or let-down to office colleagues, pupils, &c ~~ but still not making quite enough to be able to ditch the day-job, which is bound to suffer in such a situation, & go full-time.

My problem exactly, for many years, although we'd only get 2,3, or 4 gigs in a week one or two weeks in high summer - and now, with the economy down, not even then. There is a solution. It's called "Social Security." Or whatever they call the same thing in Old Blighty. But you have to wait for it.

Speaking of the economy being down, I note a tendency for the "real professionals" to take gigs that they previously wouldn't have been bothered with, displacing the part-timers. Or is that just me?

P.