[QUESTION] Any professional-type, "I get paid actual money" guitarists lurking on this sub that'd want to share some hints and tips for all of us hopefuls?

I am a full time pro in Sydney , Australia. I do over 200 shows a year. 97% Covers. I make a good living, have a nice life style, not rich, never going to be, but comfortable. Travelled the world performing. Life is good. I am a singer/entertainer, guitarist, pianist. My secret is this. There are NO short cuts. Work hard. Practice a LOT. Play live as often as you can, with muso's that are better than you. You have to network. Be gregarious, be nice, be likeable, be someone other musicians LIKE to play with. I know, literally, 1000's of songs. I used to lug shopping bags full of charts around in my car with me. Now I use an ipad. It has about 1500 charts in it, I probably have as many again in my head, and once you learn your first 500 or so, you've pretty much got it covered, music is infinite, but also finite. Only so many places you can go. 80% of my charts are safety nets, better to have a chart than make a stupid mistake because you are thinking of your shopping list, bills to pay or "wow she has great tits". Be versatile, if you want to be a jobbing musician, be versatile. Don't burn bridges, the music world is VERY incestuous, that guy you pissed off one night when you were 20 will turn out to be someone you need when you are 35, trust me, that is a fact. My rig is also versatile. I have a nice vocal PA for solo work, a bigger nice PA for band gigs ( own as much of your own gear as you can - then you get the money and decide who get's paid what ). I have about 15 high end guitars, a few different amps. I don't do drugs, I don't drink often, my money goes on keeping a roof above my head, walls around my family, and nice toys in my music room. So, no secrets really. Be obsessive, work your arse off, get live, get good, care about your audience, they are more important than you are, entertain them, don't just play songs. But most of all, practice a LOT, no short cuts, learn songs, whole songs, then play them live, with conviction. It makes a difference.

/r/Guitar Thread