Getting nursing home gigs

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Genie
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 04:34 AM

Mike, you've nailed it right on the head. The doc who usually works for a hospital or in private practice may do pro bono work for a nursing home, but the doc whose regular clients are nursing homes had best not.

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: musicmick
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 03:50 AM

Well Genie, it's dificult for a prospective client to differentiate between pro bono and dillitante. Every facility thinks itself worthy of volunteer contribution and, I suppose, they are. I dont doubt that professionals will donate their services to causes or institutions occasionally. This is not a problem unless the pro bono performance is done in the same kind of venue that the performer usually charges. If, let's say, a nightclub performer chooses to donate a set at a nursing home, his professional status is not compramised. Were he to donate his time at a nightclub, other nightclubs might balk at paying for what a rival establishment receives gratis. There are benefit concerts where professionals donate their talents. These are appropriate venues for your charity. I would feel uncomfortable about charging some facilities and not others. All my nursing homes are worthy and all of their patients deserve entertainment and the pure joy that only music can provide. I understand that some facilities have more limited funds than others and I sometimes take lower paying jobs if it makes business sense (double bookings, multiple bookings). Remember that first maxim. THEY REALLY DO HAVE AN ACTIVITIES BUDGET.

Mike

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Genie
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 02:44 AM

Marion, musimic, et al.,
Re: playing/working pro bono: Many professionals--some highly paid-- do a certain amount of pro bono work each year, and I have no objection to that. It generally amounts to a small percentage of the service provider's working hours and is provided for clients who really can't afford to pay.

What I do object to is: - the idea that musicians shouldn't charge, because they are doing something they love to do, and - the idea that nursing/retirement homes are, by definition, low-budget or non-profit and, therefore, should not pay for what others pay for.

No matter what your job and how much you love it, it's still work, and there is skill, talent, time, expense, etc. involved. Musicians should no more be ashamed to accept money for their services than should any other artisan, professional, craftsman, laborer, etc.

Also, the little mom and pop grocery store down the street may well be on a tighter budget than are a lot of nursing homes, I've seen senior facilities waste tons of money on things like putting out huge food trays for a party 40 minutes after dinner and then throwing 80% of it away, or disposable party decorations (Are those really needed?), or running their sprinkler systems mid-afternoon on really hot days --and then say "we have no more budget for entertainment. Think about it: if a facility has 100 residents and pays $50 for a sing-along once a week, that's $2.00 per week per resident. Folks in some independent living residences pay way over $100,000 per year to live there. Moreover, in many states, senior faciltities--including foster homes-- are required by law to provide actitivities for their residents. Believe me, the state does not expect these facilities to provide such services by relying on volunteers only.

The only reason I generally do "free" programs for the kind of facility I usually charge is when it's a bona fide audition that I am assured will lead to regular employment if the residents like me -- or if I've screwed up (e.g., missed a gig due to a calendar SNAFU) and "owe" them. (I even occasionally have problems from using a sliding scale and have to explain that to folks.)

Genie

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: musicmick
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 01:42 AM

Marion, Mike here. Genie is right on the mark about the sound system. Never trust that they will have a sound system or that their sound system will be functional. I use a small amp and a good mike. If you are serious about specializing in senior centers, you might invest in a remote setup. It gives me the freedom to walk around and interact with the patients. It really gives the show a new and vital dimension. Never, never, never play for free. If you do, you will have established your price. No one wants to pay someone who is willing to work for free. I know it's unfair but that's the way it is. If you work for free as a soloist, your group will be seen as an extention of you, that is as amateurs. If you are good enough to play, you are good enough for pay.

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: GUEST,Wa Ban Zhou
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 01:15 AM

I've played and sung at some retirement homes and nursing homes, the gig I remember is the one where I showed up with my guitar, banjo and mandolin, to be told that what was expected of me was to walk around with a mike on long cord and croon to karoake-type back grounds. Well, down for a dime, down for a dollar I say, so I un did three buttons on my shirt, picked up my mike,and off into the wheelchairs I went, getting up in old women's faces and singing "What's New Pussycat" or whatever. It was strange. The people seemed to like it.I got a good story out of it, so it all worked out, but after that I always checked with the Program Director about what I was sxpected to do.

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Genie
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 12:47 AM

MTed, (...but you have to keep in mind that you have create a program that is important to the grantor--it is their money. after all...)  Duh...
(You can say the same for anything you're selling--it has to meet the buyer's need/wants -- even if you have to make them aware that they need/want it.)

Question is, how/where can you find out about such potential grants?

Marion,
Among the "senior" places that hire me to do music are:
¥  (drop in) senior centers ( folks go there to socialize, not to get help with ADLs)
¥  adult day care centers (for folks who need supervision during the day for mental or physical reasons or both)
¥  group homes (for behavior disordered, drug rehab, developmentally challenged, geriatric, etc. people)
¥  geropsychicatric units within hospitals
¥  convalescent/rehabilitation facilites (with both long-termp patients-e.g., frail elderly and MS/CP patients-- and short-term patients--e.g., head injury, neck and back injury, and hip-fracture patients) and often with a wing for the memory impaired (e.g., Alzheimer's patients)
¥ nursing homes that house only the frail elderly (in need of 24 hour care for physical and/or mental dysfunction)
¥ assisted living residences (folks who need lower levels of care/supervision for physical or mental conditions or both --e.g., folks who need help bathing, folks who need daily medications monitored by a nurse, folks whose short-term memory deficits necessitate supervision)
¥ independent living residences (for people who need little or no assistance with their ADLs but who prefer the option of having their meals and housekeeping provided and having the social opportunities available in a community of senior citizens)
¥ retirement communities (with a range of lifestyles, including private homes, condominiums, apartments, residential group facilities, etc., all in the same complex)

Some of these types of facilities have mixed-age populations, and even in "senior" facilities, there may be several generations present for a program (with staff, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of residents attending/participating in some programs).

Also, some facilities are specialized populations, such as Jewish homes, Christian church-affiliated homes, Hispanic-related facilities.

Pictures and CDs are usually not necessary, but it "couldnt hoit" to have them available for the activity directors who want them.  It's more important to have a brochure/flyer that tells what kind of music you do  (e.g., jazz piano, folk guitar, classical banjo) and how to contact you.  You can give more information when you talk to the activity director.

Don't assume that anyone has a decent PA system.  Some do, but others have none at all.  I use a Fender Amp Can for jobs where I need a little amplification but don't need to have concert-hall sound quality.  For very small rooms or 1-to-1 music therapy, I use no amp.  I have more cumbersome but better quality amps for when I really want to fill a room and sound my best.  One thing you should know is that when playing at nursing and convalescent homes, you will very often be interrupted by PA announcements, nurses shouting in residents' ears to administer meds,  sometimes disruptive residents, and--oh, yes-- family and staff members carrying on loud conversations as though there were no activity going on at all!  Do invest in some sort of small PA system unless you're a belter and have a loud instrument, too.   I don't charge differently based on the PA system per se, but I do offer reduced rates to LOW BUDGET facilities if I can do the gig there--all things considered--relatively easily, conveniently, and quickly.

Genie

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Marion
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 10:29 PM

Some questions:

1. What kind of senior facilities are there besides nursing homes that might hire bands? Are hospitals, retirement communities, or church programs likely possibilities?

2. When you send a promo package around to activity directors to introduce yourself, what exactly do you send? Are pictures and CDs necessary?

3. I assume that senior facilities would usually have a PA system, right? Would it be appropriate to have differential rates according to whether or not they provide the sound?

4. Musicmic said: "If you do music for pleasure, do as you will but if you have aspirations of singing for money, you must not give away the product that you are trying to sell. It's just bad business." What do you think of my idea of playing for free as individuals but asking for money to play as a band? Good business?

Thanks, Marion

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 04:17 PM

Program grants are available, but you have to keep in mind that you have create a program that is important to the grantor--it is their money. after all--

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Genie
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 02:12 AM

Mooh, I, too, have wondered if there are grants to be had for providing music to schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, and how to go about getting them. Anyone have any info on this?

Musicmic, HEAR, HEAR!!

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Marion
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 01:56 AM

Thanks for your input all, I'm reading this carefully. I will return with more time and more questions soon.

Marion

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: musicmick
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 01:18 AM

Nursing homes DO have a budget for entertainment. They all do, no matter what they tell you. I have been performing at these facilities for decades and I am paid for my work, as are every other service provider that the nursing home uses. They pay their electricians, their plumbers, their therapists, their nursing staffs and their utilities. My service is no less valuable or worthy. I suggest that your service should be seen as having real value and that you stop selling yourselves and your performances short. If you do music for pleasure, do as you will but if you have aspirations of singing for money, you must not give away the product that you are trying to sell. It's just bad business. I am not concerned that your playing for free costs me jobs or lowers my fees. I get enough work at the fees that are truely standard in the industry (Generally, in the $85 to $150 range, more for holidays). Obviously, the longer you stay in the field the better known you become and the fees reflect reputation. As Mooh said, we are covering the hows and wheres of nursing home jobs in a seperate thread, but I wanted to make one thing very, very clear. THEY HAVE THE BUDGET. THEY HAVE THE MONEY. OTHER PERFORMERS ARE GETTING PAID. LOTS OF OTHER PERFORMERS. (Names on request)

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Melani
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 12:45 AM

The youth group of my church used to play nursing homes, doing the main popular folk stuff of the '60's, including a guy who did a lot of Hoyt Axton stuff. It's how I learned to play guitar. The only problem was that we were a church group and played on Sunday afternoons, so they often thought we were going to do a worship service. Instead they got Jim doing "Greenback Dollar."

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 09:05 PM

I think that it's an excellent idea, Mooh! Especially these days when corporations are seen as crooked, dishonest, greedy, money-grubbing *&#@**%. You'd have to make sure that they paid more than it is worth though. They're not used to paying true value. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Mooh
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 08:01 PM

In my part of the world homes are underfunded whether they be public or private, unless they're wealthy private homes, but there's few of those. The only payment at the one I play semi-regularly is sincere thanks and an invitation to their annual volunteer appreciation dinner (which is actually paid for by the County, out of a different pot of money than the home itself, I'm told). I've been led to believe that things will loosen up soon, so that there will be some limited payment. I really like these gigs, so string and gas money would help.

I've been thinking about a corporate or private sponsor to fund continueing musical entertainment. Any comments?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 06:41 PM

I've always been a bit leary about doing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" with its lines like...

"..When I saw that hearse come rollin'
for to carry my mother away

Especially since, as noted above, the majority of people in old folks homes are women!

I've never had an activities director complain about it though ?!?

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Genie
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 02:37 AM

Actually, PP, it's "persons of high chronological achievement." *G*

I've met activity directors who were overly vigilant about song lyrics that referred to death, suffering, etc. For the most part, this is silly -- no one is more aware of and, generally, more accepting of their own mortality than folks who live with it daily. Some of the most pointed humor about death and physical/mental decline comes from the seniors themselves (cf. "Get Up And Go."). Still, I don't think songs like "The Cruel Mother," "Edward," and Tom Lehrer's "Irish Ballad" would go over well at most nursing homes and retirement facilities!

Open Mike, re it being "cool in gthere on those hot august days...," don't count on it! One of the occupational hazards of playing in nursing homes is hot flashes--even if you're neither female nor menopausal! The frail elderly do tend to get cold when younger folks think it's too warm. Moreover, a lot of staff members have no common sense about dealing with this. If one person--dressed in shirt sleeves in December-- complains, they'll close windows, turn off fans, and turn up the heat, sometimes till it's 78 to 80 degrees in the room. ( I lost a client once because a kitchen staffer decided to verbally arm-wrestle with me when I tried to get the activity director [who had hired me and was in charge of the program] to helpe me cool off an 80 degree dining room before a program started. [The room had been closed off, with all the lights on, while the rest of the building was much cooler.] She was so convinced that the residents WOULD complain if the room was "cold" that she turned my attempts to modulate the temperature a bit into a major battle--which left the AD mad at me, even though she agreed that 74 or 75 would have been a more reasonable temperature.
If you can perform with normal energy when it's really hot and humid, you'll do fine in nursing homes. I can't. So I've started carrying a portable fan with me year round.

Genie

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: open mike
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 12:53 AM

i did play for an alzheimer's facility once where there was a gate with a number key pad lock in order to get out you had to perform simple math problems according to a formula posted by the gate--i got the wrong answer and needed help getting out! ouch! nothing like a captive audience... i just got 2 messages today about 2 rest homes who were inquiring about my "services" to entertain the residents...it will be cool in there on those hot august days when i have scheduled performances....usually mornings the folks are more alert.....that seems to be the best time. that and holidays as even if you don't get money, there might be some goodies-- cake, etc....to celebrate with!! the levels of care are different from different faciclties.. some are independant living places where the people are more "with it" some times you can inspire a reaction from the "clients" or residents at assisted living facility, but get used to looking out at a sea of nodding heads and closed eyes if you are performiong for an audience in a "nursing" home, as some have very short attention spans, and many may fall asleep in their wheel chairs. be prepared to stay optimistic and "up"! sometimes a tapping toe may bethe most energetic respomseaperson can give--be careful if they try to get up and do a jig- it may be dangerous to their health!!

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Pied Piper
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 07:42 AM

I've played pipes to old folks (or should it be the chronologically challenged) quite a few times in the NW UK and it usually goes down well. Lots of men in the north were conscripted into Scottish regiments in W.W.II. You have to be a bit careful about song lyrics though. I once played with a band at a stroke club and we did a version of "Yesterday"(suddenly I'm not half the man I used too be). All the best PP.

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 07:14 AM

I think that gigs in Old Folks Homes might be a bit worrying for many of us older 'Catters - what if they won't let us out at the end of the gig !

I can imagine a big nursing assistant saying "Come along Mr Bryant, it's time for your cocoa and bed - what you don't want to go - I'll call the doctor and he'll give you a shot to make you feel better !"

I'm also a bit aprehensive about what WE might have to endure when we're on the other end of these gigs. Can you imagine having to put up with the sort of performer who one tries to leave off the floor-singer's list performing Eminem........

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Genie
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 07:22 PM

Marion, one thing I didn't mention re your being paid for gigs at nursing and retirement homes is that most facilities have restricted budgets. Here in the NW, $50 is fairly typical pay for a 1-hour program in the more upscale facilities, though they sometimes will pay $60 to $75. They do hire bands for New Year's Eve and other special occasions, and they pay more, but they don't hire you as often, and even then, I'd be surprised if they pay much more than $150 to $250 for the whole band. That may be why a lot of groups (Old Time Fiddlers and the Boeing Chorus) perform as volunteers--few facilities can pay a group of 4 or more enough for it to make sense for them to do it for $.

One thing you can always do is, when you first contact the activity director of a facility, just ask if they hire people to do music. Some will say they're volunteer only, but a lot will say, yes, they do hire. Unless they have all their time slots taken by regulars, they'll probably try you out. Some will ask for an audition. In those cases, I've learned to give them a tape instead. There's too much chance that the person who is in charge when you audition won't be there a month or two later, and you'll be back to square one.

Good luck with it!

Genie

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: GUEST,Hille
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 06:50 PM

Here on the South Coast Uk it's nursing home city - and the nursing homes here do have budgets for entertainments. (Actually, I've just come home from a musical recreation of the 'Golden Years of Radio' from pre-War to early '50s that's played in over 800 nursing and residential homes in the South East)

You could try contacting through the Social Services in your area - good nursing should be registered and also voluntary groups (we have a huge voluntary organisation here that organises home visits, respite care, etc, etc also day centres) Local community centres here at least have a big support network for older members of our communities.

From what I've seen this evening (not that I'm expert now!) outreach and sustainable programmes of interactive entertainment are definitely in demand - we have a few homes here that are introducing memories rooms with items familiar from people's youth - really important for stimulation and especially where long term has won out over short term memory.

The whole event this evening now was developed into a series of repertoire for different occasions and is playing for a week at the D Day Museum in Portsmouth and also can educationally tailored for GCSE and A level DRama and Theatrical Studies.

So - go for it!!

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Genie
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 04:34 PM

Several of us who do music for senior facilties (not all of which are nursing homes) discussed this issue in this thread.

For now, just let me say that the vast majority of senior residential facilities do have a budget for hiring entertainers and music therapists (licensed or not). Many even pay some of the pet therapy and art therapy folks. The best deal is probably to send a flyer to all the facilities in your area. The Yellow Pages is a good place to start.

Personally, I feel if you are going to do an occasional gig, at your own convenience, and not spend a lot of time developing a repertoire geared toward this population, it's fine to do it as a charitable thing. I don't get paid for singing in my church choir or doing solos there, either. But please don't take the view that musicians who devote a lot of time and work --and, yes, money--to providing the kind of music that senior facilities seek should provide their services for nothing, when the facility pays for just about every other kind of service they use.

Remember that not all senior facilities are nonprofits, and some nonprofit facilities have bigger per capita budgets than some for-profit facilities have. The nursing-convalescent-retirement home industry is a huge and growing one, and most of it is run as a business.

I've been told by folks in that industry that it's hard to switch from being a volunteer to being a paid musician, and my own experience has backed up that view. I do use a sliding scale, and for some places I play for very little. But it seems to be the ones who pay me the least who value my services the least (are most likely to cancel me at the last minute or drag their feet the most on payment or play hard to get when it comes to booking).

One bit of advice I'd add re playlists: old people get younger every year. I mean that many of today's geriatric residents were young adults in the 1930s and 1940s. The really old ones and those with advanced Alzheimer's do like Bicycle Built for Two and My Wild Irish Rose, but the folks in their 80s are more likely to want "It Had to Be You," "Edelweiss," songs from the WWII era, etc. I've been doing this kind of thing since the early 1980s, and I keep having to add more and more popular music from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, due to residents' requests.

Genie

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: ollaimh
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 04:07 PM

i've played a few dozen nursing home gigs. usually i play harp and sing old irish and scottish songs with a few maritimes ones as well. it goes over great. many more of the patrons know the lyrics than at a normal celtic gig and although you see some veryill people, many are both gratefull and enthusiastic.

it's more women than men--i guess the statistics are right that women live longer.

the pay is also good and they don't want you at prime hours. tuesday or wednesday afternoon is when i usually play and i'm not likely to make much money then anywhere else. i do usually take one other instrument and alternate it to add a little spice, like mandolin, cittern, bouzouki, or guitar. and occasionally fiddle.

i enjoy the gigs. i got them by being seen busking but i've never solocited a nursing home gig, but i suspect if you just phone up and perhaps send a tape it shouldn't be too hard.

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 03:50 PM

From here in the American west, Jerry's perspective is spot on. I've played with various groups in health care homes for 20 years and never been paid (except with smiles). And the activities directors are always glad to have you call. In fact sometimes they call you.

Your idea of putting together a set list of golden oldies is good - we try to do as many from their prime time of life as we can remember.

Make sure everyone in your group understands this. One time a few of us got a loose acoustic group together but hadn't played with one of the guys, although we knew by reputation he was a guitarist.

We all took turns doing songs; Red Wing, Springtime in the Rockies, Golden Slippers, etc. When his turn came, the new guy absolutely glazed over the eyes of the little old lady in the front row wheelchair by vocally (and physically) leaping into some wild rock & roll song about "I wanna do yuh mama.." Even the rest of the band was shocked. He hadn't a clue about how inappropriate it was. After that we discussed a little more carefully what the next tune was going to be !

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Mooh
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 03:39 PM

I rarely gig for free, but nursing homes are the exception. In my little corner of the world there would be no live entertainment in such homes if it had to be paid, so I do what I feel is the right thing to do. I currently team up with a fiddler and play our usual old-time, celtic, swing and other tunes and supplement the lot with various tunes from fake books. We always have an appreciative and attentive audience, which is payment enough. (Sometimes I even feel a little selfish because I really WANT to play for these folks.)

I hope if someday I have to live in a nursing home that someone will play for me.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 02:40 PM

We don't get paid for residential homes, but it's fun and the residents love it. Good practice too. If you can keep the Alzheimers happy you can play anywhere!

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 02:35 PM

I've probably played several hundred times at nursing homes over a period of close to forty years. I've never been paid or received an honorarium. From my experience, most nursing homes don't have a budget for that, except maybe on a special occasion. Never having had to ask for pay though, I'm not really sure. If you can afford to play for nothing, it's the highest paying job I know.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Getting nursing home gigs
From: wilco
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 01:44 PM

Gigs in nursing homes, group homes, adult day care programs, and church programs are easy to get. just call and ask. Mail the activities co-ordinator your lists of songs. I always ask if there is anything special that the program should have ( religious, holidays, seasonal, etc). Sometimes, I get an honorarium for the group from some larger organizations. The schools systems, public and private) also like to get in historical programs that can tie-into their cirriculum.

Subject: Getting nursing home gigs
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 01:09 PM

Hello all. I've recently teamed up with a couple of people to work up a repertoire that would be good for nursing homes. We have a few voices, fiddle, guitar, and piano, and we're doing some folk and country, some "golden oldies" (The Band Played On, Five Foot Two, Bicycle Built for Two etc.), and some showtunes.

I'm looking for advice on how to find work. Do you need the same kind of "press kit" materials that you would need for other gigs? Do you just write to every nursing home in the city, or do they look for acts through agents or the unions or elsewhere? Do you just say "This is our kind of show, hire us whenever," or do you tend to say "we'd like to come do a Christmas show (or St. Patrick's, or Mother's Day, or whatever's coming up)"?

I'd also like hear opinions on whether or not volunteering (as musicians) is likely to turn into paid gigs. It seems like it might be a good way to introduce ourselves and show that we've got an appropriate repertoire, but at the same time, I've often heard that it's difficult to increase your price after playing for little or for free. I'm thinking maybe we could volunteer individually to get known by the activities staff, but only play together for paid concerts. Sound like a good marketing plan?

Thanks, Marion