What a wonderful thread. I am a full-time folksinger based in Fort Worth, Texas and I, too, have a day job - performing at retirement
centers, nursing homes and such; and frankly, without them I'd be economically dead in the water.

It is really nice to know that there are folks out there who encounter the same problems that I do - late checks, A/D changes, double-bookings and all the other stuff. I also perform at coffeehouses, pubs and Irish festivals; however, the Irish frenzy has died down and so has the number of pubs; I perform very little of my own material, so the coffeehouses are not interested in my show and I only do about eight to ten festivals a year and that's not enough to keep 'er afloat, so retirement homes it is.

Down here the residential corporations put you in the category of "vendor" so you get paid usually three to four weeks out from the show; but, I had one place that didn't pay after a six week period and when I called the A/P department of the corporation I was advised that they could not guarantee when I would get paid - I then went directly to the CEO and was paid within a week. I always send my invoices out in the middle of the month preceeding the performance month and, as a result, sometimes I'm paid several weeks in advance.
Hell, I even showed up for a gig in September only find someone else
playing and the activity director (A/D) unlike most, insisted on paying me because the double-booking was her fault; however, I still haven't seen the check.

Activity directors are a real trip. They are always in meetings when you call; tell you they will call you and don't; quit without taking care that your invoices get submitted so your're paid on time - it is really a big pain in the neck to deal with these folks on a regular basis. Having said that, there are many of them who treat the entertainment very well and go out of their way to insure that you're taken care of - the rest are, well, kinda like bad club owners.

Even with all the above - I really enjoy playing these facilities.
The folks who are in the "independent" units can come and go as they wish and they will let you know if they like what you do. They will also listen to every word and note of every song or story you do and they'll applaud, too - unlike a lot of the pubs. For the folks in the assisted living and/or dementia units, well, you just leave your ego at the door (as you should on every gig) go in and play, and get
immeasureable satisfaction for doing it - it's just a joy to be able to bring out even a little response from some of the old folk who are not as well off as they used to be. It always breaks my heart, too, that the damed corporations pay less for these units. I feel it's because of the residents poorer condition - and they get away with it. It's a shame, because the residents may not be as functional as they used to be, but they have hearts and ears and smiles and tears,...and they deserve better.

As for the union, I am a union member but Texas is a "right to work"
state so the union has little or no authority. You need to be a member to do some gigs in Fort Worth but not very many. I have been fortunate to get booked into a large "union" festival here every year since joining and that one gig more than pays my dues.

My bank's not overflowing from me down here, but I'm gettin' by. I charge basically $100 an hour and do negotiating down from there when necessary - some facilities do pay much more, though. As for the cheaper units, for 2006 I am still going in at $100 but will offer to come in for a half-hour show at $50 if their budget is small.

Hang in there Genie (you are right on the money with what you wrote) and we'll see you somewhere along the path...............mwh