The personal contact with NH residents is very often what they miss. While I do not subscribe to Lucky's equipment philosophy, I am totally with you with your personal touch. I and any others who accompany me always spend the time at the end giving the residents a hug, a blessing, a handshake, some loving words, whatever is appropriate.

Some will ask you to pray with them, and then next time tell you what a difference it made.

Their hearts are opened by the wonderful music you have shared. Giving that extra personal attention just completes a wonderful experience for them (and me).

Graham

Donny,

Webster's dictionary definitions:

A professional musician: One who goes out to the audience after his performance in a nursing home and socializes with them, shaking hands, giving lots of hugs, etc with complete disregard for his own health.

A non-professional scoffs at this concept and simply "just says Thank you & Good Bye, takes a bow & exits stage left!!

Why on earth do you feel it necessary to comment on something you probably know nothing about? We're specialists in this field...we know what we're talking about!

Lucky

Graham and the others,

I think I really need to clear up this "garbage equipment" remark that a few of you got upset over, although I’m certainly not apologizing for it.

I meant "garbage" in relation to today's keyboards with all the frills on them. I'm using a 10 year old Roland that hasn‘t failed once in all this time (and this is by choice and NOT because of finances). That doesn't mean it "sounds" garbage. It actually gives me a very full and versatile sound. The organ and string patches are full, warm and rich, brass cuts through when I need it, trumpets not great sounding…but with a lot of pitch bend and vibrato can be made to sound presentable, accordion is a very sweet musette sound, bells (as in I‘m Getting Married in the Morning) are striking, orchestra patch simulates a full orchestra fairly well, fiddle (for square dance music) fits right in the pocket, electric pianos a little hollow but passable, guitars..again with pitch bend and vibrato can sound very jazzy, throw in a good dance pattern with lots of "fills," good singing, pick the right songs, and you’ve got a working formula.

You’ve all missed the point of my first post: Point: Don’t get caught up in the keyboard and speaker wars. Use the time to work on your act. At one time I played three keyboards simultaneously on stage and had a fantastic sound. Sure I miss it, but I’m more concerned about giving my audience more meat and potatoes now. After all, if they want to hear pretty music they can listen to Lawrence Welk on a CD player. I give them dynamic/exciting music that “moves them” (which is what Activity Directors love to see).

That’s not to say what you folks do in your performance is incorrect. If it works, go for it. I find this is what works for me. They don’t care if I share “new” equipment with them , but they certainly care whether or not I share MYSELF! And, believe me, if I thought for one second I was short-changing my audience, I’d be at Sam Ash the next morning with checkbook in hand.

Mama Leone’s Restaurant (in NY) used to throw out this saying: Give them good food and plenty of it, and they’ll come back for more. My motto, based on that, has always been: “give them good MUSIC and plenty of it and they’ll come back for more!”

P.S. Try going through a “musical trivia” routine with them to “jar” their memories. The “fan” idea was good….I’d like to hear a few more if you don’t mind. I’m always looking to improve!

Lucky

Lucky,

These keyboards (like my PA800) with the "frills" are superb instruments that allow one to create extremely polished arrangements that MOVE the audience. Trust me, I play enough to know (56X in April).

Very well put, Gary. I sincerely agree with you. They deserve the very best.

Jim

Zuki,

If that's your bag, then do it! Right now I'm not interested in creating "extremely polished arrangements that MOVE the audience" .......been there and done that. I'm more interested now in COMMUNICATING with an audience on a personal level and honing THOSE skills. I've already established myself as a player.

Why is it so difficult to make a simple statement like I use "garbage equipment" without having the Klan members in this room go for the throat? And still you didn't get my original point!

BTW...56x in April. Zuki, isn't that stretching it a bit? That's over 4 events a day (events NOT gigs). You'd need Viagra and an oxygen tank to do that many!

Lucky

Regarding there not being a market for OMBs in Australian nursing homes, I am reminded of a certain anecdote:

A shoe company looking to expand sent two salesmen to different parts of the Australian outback. One salesman wrote to his employer, "There is no sales potential. The natives do not where shoes."

The other salesman wrote back to his employer, "Lots of sales potential. The natives do not where shoes."

Beakybird

Just curious how do you come up with 4 per day 4 events per day times 30 days in a month=120 not 56?

Well it's better than the rubbing alcohol, Donny...I had to give that up...it gave me hiccups.

Zuki wow!! 56 gigs a month ....!
do you lug those Mackie speakers, stands, PA800 in & out of each or do you have a smaller sound system for the quick in & outs? Just trying to decide what I would need gear wise to start doing this type of gig.


Unlike what I read in the other post disregarding your heath, I would worry about & protect my own health first and foremost before anything. I just dont see how you can linger after a show when you have doubles and shake hands, hug people, schmooze when you need to be at another facility in a very timely manner? Am I mnissing something here?