[throwawaycopy]

I'm a professional musician living in Austin, TX. We are very lucky here to be living in a city that actively subsidizes live music, but this place is exceptional.

At one time there was live music in every single pub in the country, if only just some drunk playing sing-a-longs on one of the ubiquitous pianos of the era. Nowadays the vast majority of restaurants, bars and private gatherings utilize recorded music instead of a live band.

I am most definitely in direct competition with DJs for wedding gigs, and they have less costs and a greater range of song materials to choose from.

Your posts read like someone who is convinced that technological "progress" never has any negative repercussions.

[mantas]

OP may be overestimating importance of "national tour" too. I know for a fact that some supporting bands not only do not get any money fro ticket sales. They pay the main acts just to share stage with them. Some people go on expensive vacation to XYZ island, other people tour as a band...

[throwawaycopy]

I went on an extended international tour in 2006, opening up for The Shins and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and it left me broke, homeless and unknown. I was living on couches, drink tickets and a $20 per diem.

It was a fantastic experience but it made me realize I didn't really like life on the road and that I needed a more secure source of income.