When playing with more than just one extra guy, I tend to just use the drums from the arranger, play LH bass, and just let everybody do what they normally do in a real band. If they can't lock to the drums, it's usually because I'm not loud enough in their monitors, but that seldom happens (I try to make the drums as loud as a real drummer onstage, so they don't have to adjust too much!)

If I have a bass player, so much the better. I really like to just use the arranger drums if I can. SO much better than a drum machine, interactive, and I love how 'live' my G70's V-Drum kits sound, they really CAN give you the sense of a real drummer onstage.

Don't let the machines take over your playing. Play as much as you possibly can, and only let the machine do the basics. The more you can change up from night to night, the less bored you and your audience get.

In more established combos, SMFs of just bass and drums can give you a lot of freedom, with markers for repeating sections, and finally free up your left hand for the bender, or other parts. I guess I'm just not a big fan of playing chords with the LH and letting the machine do it all for you.........