Mark, - don't over estimate what equipment it takes to be successful. You have the most valuable piece - your voice. Second your ear for music, your creativity, and lyrical and compositional skills. Michael Laskow says this many times - these tv/and film listings can be accomplished with fairly simple equipment - many are not much more than guitar vocal. I'm encouraging you to jump in if you can afford it(and I understand you have a family)not because I think Taxi is so great, but because I think you are. I also think if you wait too long and want everything to be perfect, that someday may become an if only.