Musicmic, I concur with what you said.  I would add two points:

- Playing at nursing and retirement homes is not just "entertainment."   In hospitals, nursing, and convalescent homes, as well as some adult foster homes and adult day care centers, the need is more for music therapy than just for entertainment.  See the "Music Therapy" threads for discussion of what this field is about.

- I think the best option for a performer who can is to explore it all--music therapy, music education, and "entertainment."   You can do the coffee houses, pubs, house concerts, and festivals when they are available, and it you can sell CDs, great.  You can supplement your income during the daytime and early evening with schools, some churches and community centers, hospitals, and the whole gamut of senior facilities.

If music is your love, I think you can find a way to make it your life. [Just don't expect to get rich -- at least, not right away.  ;-)  ]

Genie

PS,

Marion, here's a do-as-I-say,-not-as- I-do. Treat it the way your dentist would -- send one invoice each month, with a late fee specified after, say, the first three months. And keep records. If there's no response after about 2 weeks, call the administrator or bookkeeper to follow up, to make sure they got the invoice. I've gotten stiffed on a few partly because I let too much time slip between invoices.