A trained career counselor might be able to point you in the right direction, and at a community college it possibly won't cost much.

Good luck to you.

Think "multiple streams of income". The more part-time gigs you have, the more likely it is that they'll add up to one full-time job.

Can you improvise classical-ish stuff? If so, go to a local ballet school and see if they need an accompanist. You get fairly decent pay and a regular (but small) income. Been there done that. It's a lot of fun.

Can you give piano lessons? If you can stomach the idea of teaching beginners who do not practice, who will never practice, and who will give up after 6 months of not practicing, you can make really good money that way. Again, been there done that.

Can you accompany singers or instrumentalists? That's a nice gig too. I had one such client who did massage therapy for a living - I traded accompaniment for massage. Best job I ever had.

Can you tune or repair pianos? (and if not, can you learn?) There are lots of pianos out there, and they all need tuning.

Can you do some non-music-related stuff? Editing, tutoring, cat-sitting, lawn-mowing? It can supplement the music-related stuff very nicely.

I am not a professional musician (though I hope to be, one of these days), but I supported myself like that for 3 very happy years. I played at a ballet school, accompanied several singers, gave piano lessons, tutored kids in math, translated legal documents - and somehow, all of those very-part-time jobs added up to one very pleasant full-time job. It can be done. And it will certainly bring in a lot more money than what you're making.

Jazz is cool, but people NEED APPLIANCES. My regular jazz pianist is seldom available now that he's making big commissions on APPLIANCES. Now when I see him he always has a big smile on his face and money in his pocket. He teaches a little on the side, and still plays some gigs, but when he's tearing it up on Afro Blue he's no longer worried about how he's going to live. He's got that covered.

I have worked in journalism for years, another low-paying field. I went to the doctor's office the other day and the physician's assistant mentioned that he had been an editor at a national entertainment weekly for 7 years but changed careers to earn decent money. Now he brings home nearly $100,000. It's got me thinking -- if he can change, so can I.

OK, you've got degrees in music and in fine arts. If you're willing to teach, call every private school in your area--you often don't need a teaching degree or certification to teach in private schools and they would probably be happy to have someone with your experience direct jazz classes/bands/ensembles. From what I've seen, private schools like to advertise experiences and classes that public schools can't match. Offer classes in jazz improv, the history of jazz, art history, or whatever you know. Working part-time or as a contractor, you probably won't get insurance, but you may make enough to pay for it on your own. As for that, is there a musician's union that offers insurance?

I suggest that you sell something. That's a career you can get into at any age with no fancy training. Cars would probably be good. You can take some time getting good at it because you've managed to support yourself through music for so long, what does it matter if it takes three months to get your first sale?

BTW, bravo making a living of any kind in music. You are tough - far tougher than you think you are. Learning to sell won't be hard for a person as tough as you. Just remember, it's not about "tricking" people into giving you their money, it's about finding out what people need and making sure they get it. Everyone needs a car - find a brand you believe in and tell people who come to you why your brand is the best.

If you want a more reasonable salary and benefits, try public school teaching. Teach for America and Teaching Fellows programs in various cities provide free graduate training for career changers who teach in public schools. Some schools even have music programs. You have 2 months off in the summer, predictable hours and (after your initial training) time for outside activities.

You will not make a fortune. You will have a job you can count on -- generally decent retirement benefits and health insurance.

Worth considering?

... instead of having to tell people you are a secondary sub-prime mortgage sumpthin-or-other?

I assume you already give lessons. (I do. It's easy and fun.) I assume that is part of your $17k income. If not, be aware that do not even need a studio or a presentable home for lessons. You can go to the students' homes.

Do NOT move to Nashville, where everybody plays better than you and better than I, even though we are really good. Are you already in or near Nashville, though? I can give you one name. Maybe you can contact me through Salon.

Where do you live? $17k goes a lot further in Ann Arbor or Detroit (fantastic music towns, home bases of many great musicians), than it does in New York or Los Angeles.

Day jobs are a big problem. First rule: Do not get a night-time day job. Worst thing you could do is start bartending in a music bar. You will not be free for music ever again.

Here are a couple music markets to look into:

1. Do you know that there is a Nursing Home Circuit? You can get gigs at old folks homes everywhere. Early evening gigs, weekend daytime gigs, with minimal equipment. Play everything from "You Are My Sunshine" through the Beatles, including all the great jazz in between.

Grab one of your better singers, and try it out as a duo. You may find an organization in your area which books and even pays for these gigs, to brighten up the residents' lives.

2. Find a good black church, and start playing there on Sundays as a sideman with the choir. Even if you do not think you have any faith, the music will convert you, or at least make you extremely happy. And you will find the other singers and musicians at the church will pull you into great gigs on other days of the week. Also! The Preacher will pay attention to you, and listen to your story, and help you find a day job, if that really is what you need.

Conclusion: You can do any job you want to do. But (voice of experience!) you want to play music. Do NOT give it up. You may well go from being a proud $17k musician to being a miserable $18k sub-prime mortgage trainee.

Love!