I'm with Donny all the way on this one.

I'm in a duo - keys / drums. We both do vocals because there isn't anyone else available.

We play foxtrots, waltzes etc completely live because you need to be able to extend / cut short the tune depending upon reaction.

We play modern "uptempo" pop covers by playing and singing over SMF's. The modern audience has been conditioned by disco's (and indeed karaoke) to expect something that is a very reasonable facsimilie of the original.

Therefore we could be categorised as glorified Karaoke.

We do not attempt to hide in any way the fact that we are using backing tracks; I have edited all the tracks we use to leave "space" for my keys and his drums. The track we use are a mix of commercial and homebrew tracks with a small number found on the internet (you get what you pay for, the standard of most "internet" midi files is terrible).

We consider ourselves to be entertainers. We add far more to the experience than just singing along to the backing tracks. If we ever felt we really were just Karaoke singers in smart suits we would give up altogether.

John