Most professional guitar players make their living by recording and performing live. While you can achieve these goals easily, actually making a living off of your guitar playing will take years. In the meantime, there are other opportunities to get paid for your playing while making connections and learning the tricks of the industry. For example, you can be a session or fill-in musician. In other words, you're not a permanent member of a band or contribute to the songwriting, but you fill in when needed and are paid for your efforts. Many guitar players also make their living by giving lessons to students.