The Twelve.
An open mic pays nothing, and a road spot barely covers the gas. So sell the thing no venue will give you room for: a drink with twelve people. Nothing to arrange — pick a bar and an hour, "meet me at the corner bar at 4" — twelve disciples of the disciples, $20 each. Then the rules for doing it right, and three more ways the trip can pay.
Twelve spots, twenty dollars, thirty minutes
Fill it in and it writes the post, the message the twelve get once they pay, and the reminder on the day. Nothing is sent from here and no money passes through D.O.C. — your own payment link takes it. What you type stays in this browser.
The club, the money, and you
A paid hang is still twelve strangers and a booker who can say no next time. This is the order to think about it in.
A private gig, the car, the van
The show is the reason you are in town. It does not have to be the only thing that pays while you are there.