As I was playing my New Year set at a retirrement residence, a man came toward me from a rear entrance to the room. I smiled and said, "HI," expecting him to want to sing or ask for a song. He took his hand and covered the entire top octave of the keyboard and sternly said, "This is mine!"

Holy crap. I continued playing and tried lifting his hand from the keyboard; it was solidly there. I grabbed his wrist and got him to lift his hand off the board. He continued to stand next to me. Then he did one of those 'I'm gonna tickle the ivories' moves, played a few random keys, turned around and left.

Who would ever think some krazie guy would invade your space at a retirement home on New Year's Eve? It was certinly an event for me. Plus, it was my first time playing at this location. All in all, most of the residents didn't even realize anything happened. We all had a great time; I played extra time and even got the AD and a few residents up to dance and sing...

Happy New Year, Everyone.

Someone on staff should have intervened for you. Every now and then things like that happen.

Joe

What Joe said! It's not at all unusual.

Gary

Cass,
I cancelled two locations because of the same thing. The staff at each place were sitting on their back sides and not doing their job. I had a lady grab my laptop off my stand and it took two big guys to get it away from her. These were places where memory care folks live and they should never be allowed to approach entertainers. You have to remember - it is not the fault of the person grabbing the gear - they often don't know what they are doing. At one of the places I packed up my gear and went home because the staff seemed indifferent to the whole thing.

Deane

In her the defense, the AD was busy in the back of the room getting refreshments ready and delegating others. The music was not interrupted and it wasn't a problem I couldn't handle. I did raise my hand and make eye contact with the AD and she came running and escorted the man out of the room. Had it become more serious I definitely would have stopped the music and waited for help.

No one was hurt during the performance of the songs. I posted this mostly as a humorous anecdote, but thanks for concern and support.

God Bless all you guys who play at these places. That has to be very disturbing and I think you handle these situations very well. Best to all you performers for 2014. Lloyd

I had a lady come over while I was playing and starting to attack me physically screaming STOP THE MUSIC!!!!!!!! I kept playing with one hand and stiff armed her with the other until security dragged her off me...... different levels of NH's aren't all the same ...... depends on the department your playing for EG: Ind living, Assisted living, Health care, Alzheimer Reminiscence, Drug Rehab, etc,....all different audiences and situations for the entertainers to experience. But, a well trained attentive Prof staff can ease any disturbances if occurred.. only 50% of my jobs are in these facilities, and it's rare for any trouble while performing.... most of the time its a very gratifying gig!

I had a drunk guy playing my keyboard when I was on a break i quickly tossed him off later that night I was walking out of the resort and he was up against the wall with hand cuffs the police where taking him to jail there are a lot of idiots out there.

I just walked by and said yep this is usally how it ends.

I've been very fortunate in that I have not had a bad experience in any of the Senior facilities I've played, and they have been very gratifying ...
That had to be tough for you Cass, and for the others who have had 'testy' times ...
First it was the crowds in the bars, and now the people in NHs ?!? ...

Worst thing that happened to me, while playing in a nursing home was the time a resident asked me what ROOM I WAS IN!! Grrrrr ....

The thing I hate about solo jobs is that you are usually within reach from public members. I get scared whilst playing a $5k rig and there is a drunk who bought me a beer staggering towards me, you all know the feeling. What do I do? stop playing get up and take it from them, or run the risk of a spill and electrical catastrophe!

at one show last year at an Alzheimer's clinic I had to be FULLY circled with chairs to prevent resident intrusion into my performance space....once the music started it was like the last scene of the night of the living dead,..they all were coming at me with their arms out in front, ....very scary nurses all outside smoking!!

I've met some smoking nurses at Alzheimer's facilities.

Gary

I'll tell you about New Year's terror. Last year I played at a party in Oklahoma and my FIRST EX-WIFE was there.
Actually we get along fine now that the shock treatments have her condition under control.
Somebody stop me, I'm on a roll here.
The first part of that was even true. We're on good terms though. I was supposed to play the same party this year, but opted out when it looked like they were having an ice storm "up" there.

For anyone who missed it when I first posted this story a number of months ago, this happened last summer . . .

---------------------

Try this one, then. This happened about six weeks ago at a NH gig. The residents in this part of the facility are at the more advanced assisted care level.

So there we are setting up and a little lady comes up and the conversation goes like this:

"Excuse me, is that your wife over there?"
"Yes, that's my lovely lady." I reply.

So the lady toddles over to my wife and says, "I hope you don't mind but I have a question for you. You won't be offended, will you?"

Taking it lightly, my wife says, "Okay, how can I help?"

Then, straight out, this little old lady asks, "Could I have sex with your husband?"

My wife, quite taken aback by this, but ever cool, says gently, "No, not today, dear."

To which the lady replies, "Well okay, but that's my room over there. I'll leave the door open if you change your mind."

So, we play the hour gig and were joking about it with one of the staff afterwards and, laughing, she said, "Oh, that must've been M*****. It's not the first time she's approached our entertainers."

Just when you think you've seen it all, eh?

Donny,
Had to laugh about the chairs. Had the same type of event and used tables. In my case there were two residents who absolutely refused to stay away from any of the entertainers. Eventually the staff did not allow them to attend events.

We could all write books.

Deane

A bigger problem for me was always small children. Either unattended or barely watched by indifferent parents who are afraid to tell their kids to stop running on and off the stage. Usually happens when I'm on a break but is not limited to that. One knocked over my EV sub/satellite stack and sent my zx1 bouncing off the stage and across the dance floor. I got a mild "sorry" from the parents who, in ten minutes, were back to drinking and not watching there kids running up again. I had to get picnic benches and stack them in front of the stage like barricades. This was outdoors under a large pavilion. Caught another one pressing on keys and
pushing buttons in on $8g accordion..

When I was young- I might have tried something like that ONCE somewhere, but Dad made sure I learned not to do it again ...

There was a time, back when I played every Friday Night at a local American Legion, I had purchased theater poles and plastic chain that strung through the poles. It kept the drunks away from me, and other band members when I had the band. Their was, of course, always the occasional Ahole that ducked under the chain to approach the stage. Usually, the barmaid would get his undivided attention by grabbing him by the back of his shirt, or some other body part. She was a tall, skinny, country gal that could really handle anyone that got out of line. And, she always did it with a great sense of humor and a big smile. Loved that lady in those situations.

Gary

Deane its a warzone out there in the trenches LOLOL

These worked great for me for many years - and the guy that eventually took my place at the American Legion bought them from me. The poles sold for about $20 each and the plastic chain was about $1.50 per foot. Everything is plastic, and they weigh next to nothing, but they did take up a fair amount of room in the van.



Gary

I accompanied a singer in a home for people with congenital brain impairments before Christmas. It was a very friendly atmosphere, but I also had some worries that something could happen to my nearly brand-new MoXF. But the staff seemed to be experienced and blocked the aisle with some additional chairs.

Another risk might be other people who want to help you carry your equipment. Somebody wanted to carry my 18-key foot pedal (sometimes I play the bass myself by foot) and instead of grabbing the strong side parts, he grabbed the fragile pedals keys...

Loved all these stories............So glad I made the decision that my Tyros 5 will NEVER leave the house!!!!! You guys are brave! -charley

Gary you are the Master of invention.

All this got me thinking about my days as a drummer with a local country band.
We played a placed in Dallas - sawdust floors and all where the crowd was pretty rough. The bouncers were three hugh guys and they were kept busy all night long. Our stage was actually behind a screen which blocked bottles and glasses but not what was in them. After one week I quite the gig - had to change every head on every drum - and clean cymbals and stands before I could use them again. Those were the days!!!

Deane

I have "momentous" from my many years as a "lounge lizzard", including lots of broken bones from fights...usually started by someone else, with me joining in as a part of the "establishment army".

The scariest thing was a riot at a large surfing event in Anahiem in 1963. Must have been 20 thousand there in a big community center. One element has butcher knife blades stuffed in the soles of their shoes.

The bandstand was rushed, and the drummer was knocked off the stage and severely injured. The sax player was cut severely. I swung my maple Strat like a baseball bat and took out 5 people, hurting one pretty severely.

Scared ****less!


Russ

Russ, you old hothead - what are you doing using your hands as TOOLS of violence!?????!

I had a fight once, but it was back before I learned to apologize.

Russ,
in my very early days of gigging I had a gig at which a woman decided to shot her lover and chased him around a pool table firing at him until she killed him. All the band members, including me, ran like hell. Later when I was allowed to pack up and leave I found a bullet crease on the crown of my ride cymbal - the cops took the cymbal as evidence and it took me a year to get it back. I found another band to play with that booked better places.

Deane

Sadly, I STILL have a temper that is, sometimes difficult to control.

I'm not very proud of that.

In the above incident, absolute TERROR, not temper was the controlling factor.

Russ

Somehow ... even with my "quick wit" and "somewhat sarcastic" glibness ... I've NEVER been in a fight as an adult! I've teased people on the mic, made "observations" out loud at parties, and still .... never had to swing a punch in defense or offense. I remember pushing a kid (in a swimming pool) when I was a teenager ... defending the honor of my cousin. Doesn't really count - we were both IN the water ... not like he could get hurt. LOL
(fingers crossed for more of the same)

The Winner - Bobby Bare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRWlnv0_svU

I hope RASHEED isnt reading this Dave ....

heeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaa thought you red-necks were made of though stuff, old people homes of terror my butt, I always pack a 357 magnum, tapped to the bottom of the arranger, blanks naturally.