It is very tough these days, despite the incredible amount of talent out there. The music business model has changed drastically in the last decade, as everybody knows- no more big advances (or any, for that matter), very difficult to get signed by a major label, most majors are not making the money they did 10 or 20 years ago, which helped spread the risk. (Say what you will about the 'old' model but having substantial revenue from record or disc sales enabled the companies to fund new bands- they rarely do these days). And, to some degree, the change in what 'recording' consists of- Protools in someone's house isn't the same as a big professional studio with first rate producer/engineers.
It's laudable that you are helping out musicians looking for help. Right now, the best avenue is songwriting, I think, not performing. But, that's even tougher in some respects. As I have transitioned from from full-time lawyer who devoted a considerable amount of my practice to the music publishing business, and related entertainment biz work, to acting as an entrepreneur and fledgling creative/business person, I know how tough it is. There's a huge amount of talent out there that deserves to be heard.
