This is where some of us disagree. I believe that my JOB is to interact with the audience, and not the band. (live, OR memorex) Sure, it's fun when the band members gel, and camaraderie is great when egos don't get in the way, but my job as a musician is to please my audience. It's that simple. Sometimes it's with creative ideas, sometimes by pushing my chops to the max, and sometimes it's as simple as remembering a couple's favorite song, and playing it as they walk into the room. Other times, it's playing softly so that the audience can enjoy each other without having me distract them from their conversations. I'm there when they need me ... ready with a story, or a song, and I'm always ready for plan B ... or C ... or D, if none of my ideas go over.

Playing with a drum, or backing track is not an interaction. The machine is a tool, and it's here to serve ME. I'm the master. I'm in control, and I decide how much, how loud, and how long to use it. There's no interaction, it's an ACTION ... it's a command from me, and an action from "it" ... and that's how they were intended to be used.

Do I miss playing in a band? Sometimes, but not often. I get immense satisfaction from honing my craft, and sharing my gifts with my crowds, night, after night.
I have total freedom to change things up, experiment with new sounds, keys, or rhythms without having to rehearse them, or discuss with my mates ahead of time. I've evolved into a new musical entity as a solo performer, but the end game has always, ALWAYS been the audience, & their communication with me, as we interact with each song. If that's not your bag, Chas ... I understand. It's not for everyone. It's also, probably why many of my band-dependant friends are always looking for more work. Technology didn't put any musicians out of work. Musicians did it to themselves, by not staying current, playing too loud, taking long breaks, drinking on the job, shmoozing their love interests on breaks (instead of clients), using faulty gear, noodling on stage, smoking on stage, using phones on stage ... the list goes on.

I'm a career musician, and I'm more than a little embarrassed by some of my peers that paved the way for DJs, and KJs to take some of the work load from us. I feel that as long as I continue to put out a solid, marketable product ... I have nothing to worry about. 2019 marks my 50th year on stage, and I do not plan on changing direction now. Bring on the technology, the new gear, the new styles, and I'll do my best to navigate the musical waters. I'll take a page from Paul Anka's book and do it MY WAY ... and hope that someone still wants to listen. That's really why we do it ... for the applause.

The money's nice, but there's lots of ways to earn money. I sing for the joy, and the tools I use on the job, just make it easier to sell my product.
Clients pay me to learn my craft, travel, set up and show up ... then, I sing for free.