There is something about the self-sufficiency of arrangers that tempt many of us to go solo and try to make ALL the money! But the cost, IMHO, is too great. Music is a form of communication, and the audience is the LAST in the chain.

First of all, the communication between the musicians is the one thing that turns a sterile rendition of a tune (you've got to play up a storm to cover up the endless repetition of the short arranger patterns) into a musical conversation that will be different every time you play, and hold the interest of an audience. Especially a repeat audience, that has heard you once already......

Secondly, a musical partner (enough of this talk about hiring sidemen, try to find a partner that you respect) will challenge you, take you places, musically, that you don't go by yourself, and introduce you to songs and even styles that you wouldn't touch by yourself.... All important things if you wish to grow and improve as a musician.

And finally, strength through numbers! Two makes moving PA and heavy keyboards a lot easier, two makes negotiating with management easier (harder to intimidate BOTH of you!), two halves the workload on your voice, two makes poxy vocal harmonizers less necessary.....

And don't forget, your arranger is STILL a very capable regular keyboard, splits and layers, forget about it! There's no reason (unless you really AREN'T playing well enough to cut it!) to not take it and play with a full band every now and again. It is all to easy to forget what TRUE music making is, the more you understand your role in a real band, the easier it is to play what is appropriate when you ARE playing solo.

No man is an island...... don't wall yourself off from the real reason you went into music in the first place - the camaraderie and joy of playing music with others......