Digest the classics on a daily basis. Be able to name, on command, the set list for "The White Album," "Honky Chateau," "Moondance," and other classic albums. Compile a listing of your favorite 100 discs and develop an argument for the inclusion of each selection. True rock stars know the genre, its history, and its primary figures extremely well.
Craft the demo tape of your life. Prepare to impress any listener within three minutes of recorded material. Let your particularly honest friends listen to the tape and critique it harshly. Imbibe their feedback and employ it to devise a sharper, leaner, shorter demo. Repeat this process until you feel the tape cannot be improved.
Accept every live gig offered to you. Work in bars in clubs for low pay in exchange for the chance to jam. Troll your local newspapers and community websites for opportunities to play. Stage your own concerts and advertise them heavily.
Audition for every contest your head can ponder. Undergo the hassle of auditions for "American Idol" and other televised contests just for the experience of it all. Schedule at least three auditions weekly, size immaterial.
Reproduce that dream demo tape and have five copies on hand at every possible moment. Attend concerts often and become the chummy life of the party. Charm the guests and pass on your tape. Know the faces of the people that matter -- fellow musicians, record execs, industry. Blind them with your ardor when you approach them and leave them with a demo to remember you by.