Younger crowds want to hear what they hear on teh radio period!! An arranger KB player cannot provide that no way...If you can't provide that somehow you LOST that gig simple as that.....you need to choose your venues wisely & age group, and be good enough and "unique enough" to be IN DEMAND!
They should be looking for you to play not the other way around...if you can do that then your doing it right ....if you have to beg for work there's something wrong.........it's like a good restaurant, if the food is great you always go back and tell your friends to go there too....if the food sux......see ya, no one returns...