IMHO: First and foremost we are entertainers ... We get hired, and paid (hopefully ) to ENTERTAIN... How we do that is by individual preference, taking into consideration the desires of the client... Many of us used to work in a band with other musicians and relied on their support to entertain the client, but the economics don't allow for much of that now ... so we now still rely on other 'musicians, or 'music makers', but they are not physically with us on stage ... they are the style makers, the midi file makers, the mp3 recorders, whatever ... As Dylan said "The times they are a changin' ..." and they will continue to do so ... if we want to continue to feed our pockets, and just as importantly, our EGOS, we must change with them ...

I can find enough enjoyment in 'pleasing the crowd' by playing THEIR music, and then find the time to please myself, playing MY music ...

Do whatever it takes, but just keep making music ...
t.