I laid down my instruments for about 20 years or so when I volunteered to play in church & continued to prepare myself for other opportunities. God provided divine appointments & opportunities as I prepared myself. My gift made room for me. I invested my time & money into my instruments & equipment one step at a time....and I'm still doing that. Don't wait to be discovered; discover your self. I noticed that I received more help when I took the initiative-----when I asked God to show me, etc. In other words, if someone called you today to play, how prepared are you? Then ask what can you do to be prepared? When I looked for others to "support me", it NEVER worked out. When I sat down & said Holy Spirit it's just you & me show me....that's when things started happening for me. That's when I wrote & produced my own CD w/ one audio engineer. That's when my husband stepped up & started managing me, etc. That's when I spent countless hours (sometimes all night) reading & researching on the internet. I go out and network a lot...& I barter with other musicians when there is no $$, etc. If you're on facebook look up Strategic Music Partnership & ECMA & friend these groups. Henry Harris is the founder of ECMA & is looking for artists to groom in the gospel music industry both musically & professionally. It also teaches the independent artist the business & marketing side, too. I've spoken with him so I know about this sincerity. He also has a book out for about $6 that breaks everything down for you in terms of how to make certain your music is protected, promoted, etc. Here is the website: http://www.amazon.com/Music-Business-This-First-ebook/dp/B005LE6DAQ.... Search this info and check out his internet radio website: http://www.spiritco1.com/, too.