If you are coming to the USA and you have been booked for a legitimate ("on the books") paying engagement, the promoter (club manager, concert producer, festival director, etc.) should help you obtain a temporary visa as a visiting guest artist. Otherwise, follow the advice in the previous message.

By the way, after many years of being denied admission to the USA as a security risk, Ewan MacColl was finally granted a guest artist visa in 1970. However, I believe it was for just a few days in-and-out, and during that time his travel was restricted to New York City and its immediate environs.

--- Steve