Bill, I've never tried to work in Southern New Jersey, but Donny Pesce seems to have all the work he can handle in the central part of the state. It takes a lot of legwork to get into the NH business these days, more than most folks believe. Plus, it requires a fair degree of commitment to retain that business once you become well established. I'm constantly on the lookout for new places opening, and try to get my foot in the door is soon as the AD is hired. I was amazed at the number of new retirement and assisted living facilities that were scheduled to open with 20 miles of my home. At least a dozen new ones within the next three years. One new retirement location is supposed to have 700 residents, which means lots and lots of jobs for me. Additionally, I already have a 12 year track record with one of their other retirement communities and I'm still there, so getting into the new one will probably not be too difficult. Then there are places no one thinks about - adult day care facilities seem to be springing up at some unusual locations. I just started playing at one that's on the campus of a community college. Never would have thought about an adult day care being there. I'll be there this Friday and every last Friday of the month for the next year. I also performed at another similar facility in Pikesville, MD, but the drive home took me into the Baltimore Beltway's rush hour, which is horrendous to say the least. I dropped a dozen west side facilities because of the drive home during rush hour. The ADs at these place still contact me to do special parties and events for them, which often commands premium prices.

Good Luck,

Gary