Once you’re up-and-running, consider offering different band line-ups to suit different occasions. It may be extra work learning the material, but adding a brass section (for example) to a conventional line-up opens up new possibilities for your repertoire, makes you look and sound better, makes more money for everyone and opens up your potential for taking on more prestigious – and better-paid – gigs.

You’re likely to be doing some wedding gigs in self-contained venues, so charge a little extra for a DJ or playlist service in the breaks. Plus, since you’re likely to be at the venue all day waiting to perform at night, why not offer an acoustic line-up option to play during the afternoon reception?

If you’re really serious, think about recruiting other musicians to learn your set from a recording and deputise for your key players, so you’ll never have to turn a gig down. And for occasions when you’re double-booked, find another band in the same vein as you and agree to recommend each other – referrals and word-of-mouth are persuasive factors in booking bands.