Well, I started by playing music like crazy. I took every chance I could to play music. Also, If you play lots of covers (Songs other bands wrote) you will get sorta your own understanding of music theory. When I first started to write songs I was really bad and got discouraged a lot but I didn't stop so thats really what kept me going. Every one starts were you are now but not everyone is crazy about music. so, just as long as you keep telling yourself that you rock, keep playing to yourself, friends and family, and don't give up you WILL be really good. The big thing is not to listen to the people that are just mean and think what you want to think about yourself. About playing shows, I always just find a store or something and talk to them on the phone about it or go there to talk about it. If you are positive about your music you will most likely to be booked there (Well,... you have to know what your doing too :D ).