Full time agents are listed in the phone directory. They are liscenced and they pay a business privaledge tax. If you cant find them (check under "Entertainment" and "Theatrical Agencies") in the Yellow Pages, they will be listed with the local chapter of the musicians union. The more legitimate the agent, the more the jobs pay. Advertising is expensive and, usually, not cost effective. You would do better just contacting facilities directly. I know quite a few performers who have established a good client base by simply calling nursing homes and talking to the activity directors. I am too damn lazy to go that route so I just hung in there long enough to get a reputation in the industry and among the agents. Talk to the performers who do power solos in nursing homes. You can make headway by starting out as a "disappointment act", that is a replacement for acts who have to cancel at the last minute. Once you are in a position to, actually, do your act in front of an audience for real money, dont forget to follow up a successful performance with a suggestion that you be re-hired and some leads for other facilities. Nothing is better advertising than the reccomendation of a satisfied customer. I used to live with a juggler who built a terrific business for his troup. He told me that the definition of a successful job is that it generates another job.

By the way, what kind of act do you do? Do you do specialties like children's shows. ethnic programs, patriotic themes? When you promote yourself, it helps to have a name or theme that is easily understood by the potential customer. It isn't enough to say Genie, the Folksinger. That is too general for most clients.

Mike