Donny, both things are wrong, IMO.

Heads down 'players', and heads up karaoke billed as 'live' music. If musical credibility is of any value whatsoever. If it's just the dollar, well, the audience likes dancing dogs, too, and spinning plates..! You aren't going to do THAT, too, are you?

DJ-ing, karaoke, 'backing track' acts... All of these can be done by entertainers with NO playing skills at all. The trouble with moving into these areas, as you ARE a 'player', too, is that you place yourself in competition with others that have little in the way of a learning path, so a LOT more competition. At the top of your game now? That's good, but you put yourself on a level playing field with others with no skills at all, and you make it a lot harder on yourself than choosing to compete in a field that HAS to have skilled players, or the audience walks out...

I don't know about your area, but down here, the majority of venues refuse to have 'backing track/DJ' acts, and want as much live music as they can get. To the point where I have to work hard to point to to the managers that, although we use artificial drums, very little else IS automated. Once they see us, they get the point, but 'entertainers' that just stand behind a keyboard and sing (or walk out in front of them) only play the Elks Lodges and VFWs, and the clubs and restaurants go out of their way to avoid this kind of act.

I guess being in the 'backwards' South has it's advantages!