(8) Day Job

lol.. after reading the title I was inclined to add day job. But you seem quite realistic about the situation. Others would have added to get a job in the public sector in the area of music like in an orchestra or for example as music teacher who only works 3 hours per week.

Here are some more ideas out of my head:

• teaching instruments; ideally to bored housewife with rich husbands:-)
• working as conductor for amateur bands as a side job
• becoming a music producer in case that's not included in "backing musicians"
• organizing music related events/festivals
• writing and/or singing pop or folk songs. There are enough extremely good musicians who go the BS road to financial success because it pays much better.
• doing something controversial like masturbating on stage while singing (ok, don't do that, but I'm kind of sure it would find its audience)
• playing the same song over and over again with a bagpipe as street musician and then getting paid for leaving.
• double your price and only work half the time.. in case that works :-)

I will follow you now.