I wouldn't say that the way I do it is the best but since I play fulltime in a highly competitive market, and I just left a full room and a grateful employer behind about an hour and a half ago...

First, I think if you present yourself as a keyboard player and you want to establish yourself with an audience then you should stop all the gadgets now and then and just play something meaningful. The ultimate test of a keyboard player is the naked piano... turn off everything but the piano and nail something that eliminates any and all doubt in the room. Having proved the point to them and yourself, from there you can do whatever you want... and often the more farout the better. I make it a point to revisit the piano often.

Second, it is the greatest time ever to be a keyboardist... I got keyboarding freinds that didn't make into the 21st century. And in their memory, and for our mutual amusement, I find it necessary to be as modern a musician as humanly possible. MIDI files, MP3 files, loops, samples, softsynths, laptop computers, arrangers... I really don't see any reason (oh, I use that too) to limit myself from any technology I can utilize and afford. I can't imagine what the great composers and performers of the past wouldn't have given for a fraction of our potential.

Yeah I got freinds today that wouldn't touch a MIDI file with a ten foot pole... that's cool... better that they don't do a sloppy job of it and spoil the market.