Hi Marion;
   Great thread.
Worked in a Psychiatric setting for 35 years and in that time I was responsible for providing entertainment to approxmately 1000 patients (residents). This I did for 15 years before moving to a different department. I, like many, went out and did the club scenes looking for people who would give up a few hours of their time to come and entertain. Many musicians, before they would perform would say that they were nervous. I would say, "Yep!! you should be". Then I would look them in the eye and tell them the following. " If you can play before this audience then you will have played before one of the toughest and most "HONEST".
I am now retired and (55)entertain in my community nursing home with an accordian player, fiddler and another guitarest. We don't charge because we do it for "the love of it". A few weeks back I overheard the new person in charge saying to a very young musician (who was a guest,her brother.) not to play any sad songs because the folks didn't like sad songs. Well, when it came to my turn,I sang songs such as, A Prisoners Farwell, A Mother's Love Is a Blessing,Old Shep,The First Fall of Snow and so on. When I was finished she couldn't beleive the round of applause I received. I then took her aside and explained that these songs were number one hits for them. Yes , sad but songs of their youths. and times which should not be erased but brought back to memory. I don't think she understood. What the hell, when I'm old (not to far of) Please bring me some one who can sing Bob Dylan, John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Massengill, Penny Lang, Tom Paxton and so on. If they don't know any of their songs then fuck off, because I will be at the age where I really don't give a shit and want to keep abrest with new musice.