The live music scene here in this area seems to have improved somewhat in recent years. There are still a lot of K*****E joints around, but they are showing signs of waning.
There are only a handful of places that feature nightly entertainment, but there are lots of places that have weekend bands. Most bands have a keyboard player and/or sax player. In most of them just about everyone sings some, and some have female vocalists. The country groups have a Pedal Steel and/or Fiddle player.
Other that the casinos, most of the venues don't pay enough for a band to make a living, but there are some really good bands that just like to play and are happy to take home $50 to $100 apiece. Some of them run bar tabs that are more than that!
DJs make more than band members do here, particularly at wedding receptions. I have two DJ friends that charge $1,000 to $5,000 for receptions. And they get to keep it all. You seldom see bands doing receptions any more around here. These guys know how to do a reception, complete with good personalities, lights, great sound, knowing when to play what...all the things that we musicians used to do. They dress appropriately and serve as Master of Ceremonies as well.
Rambling again ... time to go outside in the nearly freezing weather and play some golf.