Well, it's not really a living, but as an un-manned side job it brings in some income. Check out this site:
Tunecore.com
It helps you (for flat fee) to put your music on iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, ect... and you get the amount paid to you after the site takes it percentage, as the website (distributor) takes none. It's a good way to help support you, and i guess if you sell like 50,000 songs in a week or something it could support you, but if you just start out, it's a good side job as it brings in income without any maintenance.
Check it out, I'm recording an album to put on it and I should be done within a few months.
David

I have been gigging for a living for 16 years now. 2 members of the band I am in now are in the Iowa Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame.

Nice. Would one of these happen to be you?

Nope not me. I am too much of a hack to be honored like that. Don and Glenn have been doing gigs since 1962, back when live music was a big deal. I started gigging in 1974 and wasn't fortunate enough to stay in the same band for an extended period of time.

Yep making a great living from it here. :)

Yeah, like most guys the bulk is from teaching, then supplemented by some gigs. To be honest, both are a little slow right now, especially in Michigan.

I have not gigged for over a year now. Never really made a living at it but have more than paid for my equipment over the years. Used to love to teach as well. But I never was too hung up about the money. I just enjoyed playing and teaching when I was in the groove.

Frankly playing gigs is good practice. Being out of that and recording for awhile I am a bit rusty!