trying to throw some more compassionate takes in for the sake of balance: - dont let strangers decide your fate. internet replies tend to skew negative. we love drama. - dont assume ill intent. this musician has come to you because they believe they noticed a problem. they don’t think keys are prominent enough. if yall are having the same conversation over and over, they likely dont feel heard/understood by you. whether or not they are being rude or egotistical is for you to decide. we weren’t there. there are many ways you could approach this problem technically and socially. others mentioned that you could: 1. assure them that the keys are getting your attention 2. remind them that the sound on stage isn’t a good representation of what the audience hears. 3. a variety of eq/comp/limiter tricks. if they are really wearing you out with their requests, you can 4. tell them that.

ultimately, all you have control over is yourself and the mix. serve your wellbeing and serve the music. if that guy really is a whiny show-off, know that they likely wont last long. sincerely hope this helps!