Threads re Nursing/Retirement Home Gigs

Mud, the kind of program you describe would go over extremely well at nursing homes, convalescent/rehabilitation centers, and some assisted living residences. I imagine the activity directors would pay you what they normally pay their entertainers -- maybe more, since you are a group, it's children, and it's "for a good cause."

Most nursing homes (where many residents' memory and decision-making skills are not what they once were) do not allow tipping. But in many assisted and independent living facilities, the residents have complete control over their own finances, and they sometimes insist on tipping, make charitable donations, etc. (Naturally, collecting tips and donations needs to be run by the AD first, and needs to be handled in a way that doesn't embarrass the ones who can't or don't want to donate.) If you tell the folks what you are raising money for, you might get quite a few donations from the group. (At some senior centers and independent retirement homes, you might, in fact, make more at some facilities by doing it on a pass-the-hat basis or by staging it as a benefit, with a small donation asked at the door, than by charging a fee.

Don't hesitate to discuss these options with the AD.

Whatever the talent level of your music and skits, the fact that the performers are children will earn you a lot of extra appreciation from folks who are great-grandparent age.

Genie