a rare conflict

[sean_on_bass]

Do you believe that adding a keyboard player will add to your gross yearly take, because I'll bet it wont.
Having said that, I always want keys in a band but an extra head means less gross in 90% of cases. imv.
The only way that works is if you say no more bar gigs, we are going Events or whatever, but thats a work in progress, imv and you will likely have a couple or poorer years in the transition.

Agreed, you have to book more private events and weddings to break out of the bar pay which is largely fixed. Really hard to get good pay for bars unless you have a smaller band like a trio.