Boy, you're going to get everything including the kitchen sink on this one, lol...

Talk to 10 of us who perform for a living, you'll find 10 different ways of doing it.

I'm a keyboard player/vocalist...so visually, my act didn't change much when I started using my Tyros. For a guitar player to suddenly have a keyboard next to him, that he reaches over and touches to start songs...Who knows. Will you strictly follow the arranger? Will you at times NOT play guitar during a song and play only the keys? In some places they won't care...other places it may not work real well.

Also, the approach to how you utuilize the arranger is worth looking at as well. I basically ride styles 90% of the time. I don't split my keyboard and I never use saxes, brass, etc for any leads I play. What I try and stick with are more keyboard/pad based leads. One exception I make on a regular basis is my use of the vibes for leads. This approach works best for me given my piano style and my personal tastes plus, honestly, I haven't felt comfortable playing with a split keyboard. Maybe down the road I will, but the way I described above is working great so far.

Scott Yee, the TV star that we all know & enjoy, takes the opposite route. He DOES use a split keyboard and uses saxes/brass/ect for his leads all the time and it sounds great.

This isn't something you're probably going to be really comfortable with trying unrehearsed, lol...My advice is play around with your new set up and find a "place" where the sound is pleasing to you, the mechanics of starting/ending songs, selecting different variations of a pattern, fills, etc. feels good to you.

Whatever that "place" is...is probably where you need to take this. Once you get comfortable with that and are gigging alot...you'll knnow what changes you want to make and then make them...

Again, I'd highly reccomemend lots of practise at your home to get your comfort level up nice and high. If you're pushing yourself and secure some new accounts...they won't care that you're trying a new setup. Work the bugs out at home-everything will likely fall into place for you.

Good luck...

Bill in Dayton