...BUT, one size does not fit all. If you remove nursing homes from the equation, I'm guessing that arrangers would only be acceptable in about 10-15% of other professional venues. For instance, I can't think of a single Jazz club where an arranger (used solo) would be acceptable. Same with a Rock club. Same with a Blues club. Same with a hardcore C/W club. Sure, solo piano probably wouldn't cut it in some of these venues either, but hardcore music fans DO put some value on authenticity, and frankly (as much as Arranger players have a hard time accepting it) most don't view arranger keyboards as 'authentic'. I think part of it is because they have a harder time judging your level of musicianship when a computer is generating the best parts of your performance. When you sit down at a solo piano gig, trust me, THEY KNOW.

Contrary to popular belief, I DON'T dislike Arranger keyboards (I have three), but I DO dislike false narratives and 'ALT facts'. Please don't trot out the old 'entertainer' vs 'musician' thing; I've heard it over and over again ad nauseum. As usual, Tony has it right with this quote "BUT, doesn't it depend on the venue, what the audience is looking for, what type of music is desired, and other factors? ... If a venue - and its audience - is only looking for solo piano music, whether it be 'cocktail' music, semi-classical or classical, or jazz, then an arranger might be over kill ..", at least until he got to the word 'over kill'. I would substitute 'inappropriate'. JMO, of course.

chas