English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters in a text about a band

Being in a band is expensive. Really expensive. There’s the gear, the van, the rehearsal space, the recording time, the CD duplication, the Web site, the lead singer’s hair products, the T-shirt manufacturing, etc. Things add up quickly, and rarely does a band make enough money to cover it all. Some bands resolve the issue by sharing the rehearsal space, touring in mom’s minivan, or recording the album at an audio-engineering school, but eventually somebody’s got to pay for something. So why not revamp the live act into a DIY profit machine?
In this current state of the music industry, the major label practically doesn’t exist for the working band. That elusive record contract, that fantasy we’ve all dreamt about, for the most part is a pipe dream. There’s still some money to be made in this business and there are many streams of revenue to tap, but it’s pretty much entirely up to the musician to figure out how to stay afloat. The live show offers a great situation to make money, and if you’re smart about it, your band might one day earn enough for you to purchase your very own panini maker!
Of course there are the usual methods of making money: playing gigs, album sales, ***raffling off dates with the bashful bassist*** — but there’s more to maximizing potential profits than just showing up and playing. The basic sources can always use a tune-up, and a new vein of potential gold dust is just a few good whacks of the pick away. If you haven’t already, it’s time to get smart about the band, treat it like a business (and no, that’s not selling out), make some money, and pay your uncle back for that loan on the band van. While the following strategies won’t spontaneously yield any cushy retirement funds, their combined efforts can greatly impact any band’s financial infrastructure in a positive way.

I can't really understand this phrase - what is it supposed to mean within the context? Please advise.