I have more than a few friends that travel with empty shells and stuff them with digital pianos. One guy has a very lightweight mock-up (that was never a real piano)and it looks just as good as the real thing. Another made a 2 piece unit that has cloth (drop down) sides that make the curved shape easier to transport. Another has a real, live wooden shell that was gutted - ugh...heavey.

The concept is good. People like the look of a grand piano, more tips are generated (fact, not fiction) when a grand is played, so it may be worth the extra effort.

My take is different:

I am selling a very diverse pckage that includes many of the same elements that Brian offers: piano/vocals/DJ/MC .... yada, yada, yada ....
The difference is - I never try to load up the stage for the sake of bulk.
The general opinion of the uneducated public is that we are glorified DJ's anyway, so even if the disk comes from a kb, a PC or a CD player .... we are perceived as DJs. We can be singing our hearts out and playing up a storm, and some people will still believe that the core sound package comes from a disk. In many cases - they are not so wrong. We all use automation. Some more than others. I use more today than yesterday .... ( hmmm, catchy ! ) but I still pride myself on being ABLE to do it without the toys when needed. Automatic backing tracks, sequences or Karaoke disks are all the same in the eyes (and ears) of the audience. They are a normal, everyday paqckage that has been shoved down the throats of club goers for years. You can thank Karaoke for that, but it's not all bad. If people need an outlet to blow off steam, and singing badly while embarrassing themselves in front of a crowd is how they do it .... and they want to pay US to help - then so be it. The gauntlet has been thrown and the challange has been made. It's up to us to accept or reject the challange. 20 years ago, I used certain cassette tapes to enhance my performances, and them switched to MD, then to CD, and now ... MP3. The times, they are INDEED-a changing.

Simple facts:
1) Entertainers need work.
2) People need to have fun
3) Party crowds can be better served with a mix of live/DJ. More age groups can be pleased with more mediums.

My simplest rig allows me to do all facets of the entertainment spectrum.
CD playback from the laptop (odd requests)
MP3 playback from the laptop (dance tunes)
Live songs from the kb (psr2100 right now)
seq songs with live piano parts (2100/LT)

The only difference between the small jobs and the larger jobs is the sound system. More room to cover - more speakers.
Less room - less speakers.
Tiny, background situation - NO speakers.(external, that is)

So Brian, I applaud your desire to offer a diverse and marketable product, but I think you will get the same ammount of jobs with a smaller kb/CD/PC housing that travels easier. There are great looking DJ tri-folds that have 1 or 2 shelves and fold flat for travel. They look great - protect the gear and hide the wires.

Check into something like that before you get a hernia. Cocktail hours can always be done a a real piano at many places. Just bring the LP in and set it on top. (if you need it) After Cocktails....you're already set up for dancing ... just take your place at the helm of whatever medium you need to satisfy the crowd. It's all good, no matter how you get them there .... the important thing is the journey. Have a great trip everybody - the waters getting rough out there, and there's fins to the left .....