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That is, if getting paid is your ONLY intention for doing this.


I know of many who volunteer their time and services to Sing at these Senior Centers/Assisted Living Centers.

Yeah nursing homes and the likes are often volunteer work as they don't make their money from customers.

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Be prepared to keep the volume exceptionally LOW.... These senior citizens live in a world that is fairly muted and mostly quiet: any volume to them will be excessive.

You will also find that whoever is the most sensitive to volume will place themselves directly in front of a speaker and give you painful looks and demand you "turn it down!" So make sure that you tell the workers there that people sensitive to noise need to be placed far away from the speakers.

If you really want to be a hit at a nursing home, plan to tell stories between songs that relate to the songs themselves.... for example; In the hit "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers, there was a young girl named Cherilyn Sarkisian who was a "studio background singer" that sang only during the chorus. She now is known as "Cher. "

But any interesting stories you can relate to those times with the songs you sing will not only make the time go faster, but the audience will really enjoy it. You don't need to rush to entertain at a fast and furious pace.... they'll enjoy a slower pace too, it's where they live.

Even if most of the audience is wheeled in....

Q, the operative word was hire. If she had asked for it to be volunteer work I would have quite happily performed in the same way. Notice, if you will, her intentions. They were for hire. That way she could get OK for payment. Then keep for her true intent.

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And sanj has not stated whether his intentions are to get hired or volunteer. You brought up one situation, where you were hired to perform and did not get paid. Thus, my quote of your post and my response about whether that is sanj's intention or not (and mentioning that others have volunteered their time to do this).

I really appreciate all the great suggestions from everyone... If you have other stories like the Cher one which I didn't know I would appreciate it. IMHO When you're performing at Nursing Homes it's mostly for volunteer work anyway.

Speaking of stories.. I'm telling this story about wrong songs That I've heard play at gigs to some good friends...I played in a band and did a friends daughters wedding but we weren't a wedding band. We were a blues/rock band. They wanted a slow wedding song but we hadn't prepared anything so the guitarist slids into "The Thrill is Gone" by BB King. Nice wedding song Also, playing with another band and a couple were being recognized in the crowd for celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The keyboardist starts "You've Lost that Loving Feeling".. Can't make this stuff up.. So, our good friends say Think that's bad they played "You're Cheating Heart" for our wedding song.... All True.. Again, can't make this stuff up!!!

That's absolutely tasteless on their part. I specifically tell the bride and groom that "as a matter of course, I do not -- and will not -- play any song who's content relates to the termination of a relationship."

This means that;
I Will Survive
You've Lost That Loving Feeling
The Thrill is Gone
You're Cheatin' Heart and
any kind of "break up or death song" will NOT be played. Even if the groomsmen and bridesmaids beg for it....