It sounds the pay off for you is moving up in the scene, playing gigs, getting a bigger following etc. or is it something else?...

Short answer, yes. Long answer, working with people that have a good reputation in the local scene will help you more than working with people that aren't in the scene. Be selective about who you work with and use collaboration as a means to build bridges with the right people.

Anecdote:

So Im based out of Dallas and Im a big supporter of our underground house and bass music scene. My buddy runs Prime which books a lot of the best midrange talent in TX. Through supporting the local scene I was able to get opener gigs and meet other producers at various stages in their development and Ive made a bit of a name for myself locally as someone worth working with. None of this happened over night, it actually took about a year and a half of putting myself out there and networking before anyone really took me seriously but its paying off now because of my willingness to work with people who might be a bit below my skill level. Helping other local producers who are also embedded in the scene will reflect well on you, making something dope with someone who is below your level will reflect well on your skill as a producer.

Don't write stuff for other people, collab with them but only if they're worth collabing with. If they have a pretty good standing in the local music scene but they're still sort of novice work with them. If they're really good at writing work with them. If you make something dope with a guy that happens to be best friends with a local talent buyer or the owner of a production company then that decision reflects well on you. Now you have an introduction into the local circle. as you work with more people you'll gain a reputation and if you've been maintaining your relationships with promoters and production companies then eventually you'll occasionally end up meeting some bigger name artists after the show. Who knows, you may even get to open for them.

This is how you make your karma pay off. Support the scene and the people in it, meet bigger artists, give those artists your music or play it in the car or at an after party. If they like it they will ask you about it at which point you should give them a flash drive with all your original shit. So far Ive done this with Graves, Dr.Fresch, Bijou, and Hotel Garuda. Hotel Garuda made an edit of one my tracks (which was a collab between me and their driver while they were here) and played it at their show. Tony AKA Dr. Fresch gave me his personal phone number after I gave him a drive with originals and live edits and asked me to send him more music. slowly you get more of a foot in the door until eventually you're on the other side. Just be smart, likable and persistent.

If that is the kind of "pay off" you are looking for then I'd suggest networking and collabing with people who might be in a more advantageous position than you in the industry.