also, maybe as one gets older (speaking to self also) they should rely less on their teacher for everything (acceptance, recital participation, etc.) and just hold their own recitals when they are ready either at their home for their own students, at church, or during the week at a retirement community, public place - such as restaurant, mall, etc. and have fun anyway! you can find venues, too, if you say that you will help a cause with donations. sell your tickets for any cause you choose and even if not all the people who bought tickets come, at least you have a venue. (idea plagarized from lostinidlewonder)