I am a Canadian musician interested in working in the United States. Are there any options available to me?

An article on musicians has just been uploaded to the U.S. immigration database. It should answer most of your questions. You can access the article by clicking here.

My wife is obtaining her H-1b visa to begin employment in the U.S. I am still searching for a job and potential sponsor for my H-1. However, should I not find suitable employment I would like to start a small consulting practice in financial services area - business valuations, assisting in raising financing for small entrepreneurial companies. Is E-2 Investor Visa the only option? How shall I proceed?

It does not sound like you would be investing a sufficient amount to qualify under the fifth preference employment creation category (different from the E visa). Therefore, the E visa is probably your only option. You should consult with an experienced attorney familiar with the policies at the consular post where you intend to make your application. He or she can give you an opinion regarding eligibility. For your information, The U.S. Consulate in Toronto is the only post adjudicating E visas for Canadians.

Read my article on E visas for some basic information on how to proceed. However, E visa processing is quite involved and I recommend you hire an attorney to assist you.