My old Sport Psych mentor always used to tell this story to athletes who wanted to be pro...
There was an old man, who lived in a house. And alongside that house was a basketball court. The local kids would play there each day, and the noise distracted the old man from his reading.
He had asked them to be quieter but they laughed at him and made even more noise.
So one day, he took out a deckchair and a book, and sat courtside watching the game.
"What are you doing old man?" said one of the guys
"I'm watching you play" replied the old man
"If you want to do that, you have to pay us old man"
"OK, how much?"
"Five dollars a day"
"OK" said the old man, and handed the guy five dollars
Every day the old man arrived at the same time and watched the games, having given the same guy five dollars to do so. Then one day, the old man sat down, but didn't give the guy five dollars
"Where's our money old man" said the guy
"I don"t have any more money" said the old man
"Well if you don't have any more money, we aren't going to play for you" said they guy.
And they all left, leaving the old man in peace
It's amazing how many pro athletes will tell you that was exactly their experience, no doubt true for some musicians as well