Genie,

This is an informative and important thread. Those of you who do senior assisted living and nursing homes are probably aware of the good that you do. Someone invariably asks my wife and I where we are playing. So we say, "Well if you don't mind getting up at 6 or 7 in the morning you can see us at X elementary school." It's difficult to invite them to a senior assisted living or nursing home. In short, the public doesn't know what we do.

Harold Leventhal, bless his heart, is a wonderful guy and great impresario. But yes you can make a living at singing folk music as long as you broaden your definition. It isn't all concert halls and coffee houses as you have stated.
My definition of folk music is that it's "accessible". That's why it survives and people always like it pretty much when they hear it unless they have an agenda.

One of the most important things is that you are having fun with it. The other thing about playing assisted living, schools, nursing homes etc. is that you'll be better off if you care about the people you're playing for. It's not just another gig.

From what I've been able to gather, the music scene is different from one place to the next. As to pricing, first ask yourself what you need. Then stick to it. Eventually you'll get hired. Unfortunately, the denegrating view of the arts in society has to do with how much you think you are worth. I say this because how can you put a real value on art? But you are forced to do it. Don't sell yourself short but don't price yourself out of the market. It really comes down to how much you do is worth it to you.

Perhaps, no one is going to get rich doing this but sometimes you'll do OK.
See Harold is talking to young people who used to take off and travel because Pete Seeger said that this is the way to see the world. This is what Pete did. That worked in the forties and early fifties but times have changed.
You can't hitch hike any more or hop freight cars to get around. Far too dangerous. RV's eat up a lot of gas. Airlines break instruments. But someone always wants to hear and participate in music. You have to find your own market and what works for one person doesn't necessarilly work for another.

Nevertheless, all these ideas are good. Mike, we prefer to stay away from agents. Bad experiences. Personal contact is always the most effective way, I think. Genie, it sounds as though you are doing just fine. When you get enough gigs, just notch your price up a little. You've earned it. Use some of your money to kick back into your business. Learn some more guitar, or singing lessons, or research material. Upgrade your business.

Regarding teaching, this has been covered but I like teaching classes the best. I have them in my home. I like a lot of people playing and singing together and that's why I went back into teaching after having been burnt out with it. I'll probably never teach a student one-on-one again. People really need to learn how to play and sing and make music together.

Finally, I have found so many fine musicians who have day jobs. This certainly is true for the community of amateur performers known as "folk singers".

Frank Hamilton