Some more NH videos.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd5pyT2cBs6cF9jLZZalpZw

Regards,

Jerryghr

As a famous NJ entertainer frequently says, the more they play, the more jobs I get. These guys should contact Captain Russ immediately. Not only are the videos third rate, the accompanying audio is at the very bottom of the heap. If I put out promotions with this kind of quality, I would be doing something else for a living.

And, while the Sinatra imitator is fairly talented, he could be found libel for false advertising. I'm fairly confident that he never played in any of the locations he portrayed on that video. If he did, I would be amazed.

Cheers,

Gary

I watched several minutes of most of the videos.

The first lady - I liked her voice...

The second lady - not so much...

Frank Sambuco seemed too phony, voice seemed weak...

Dave Rothberg - I can see how people would enjoy him...

One of the trends we see in assisted living places is that folks want 50's and 60's rock and roll.

My second cousin makes a living doing 60's rock and roll at assisted living places.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rockin-60s/113079368747619

I keep looking around the rooms at NH and Assisted Living centers, and the one thing that immediately stands out is there are younger people in the room than I am. Damned scarey! I have always been able to read an audience pretty well, and the one conclusion I came to is I should be playing the songs and music they danced to when they were 16 to 45 years of age - works for me!

Gary

I may average about a half dozen N.H. gigs a month. Almost all are agency bookings. Donny, Fran and Uncle Dave may have a different experience, but it seems that the Nursing Homes in the north-east have budgets for entertainment. That has triggered a vulture-like assault on AD’s by agencies that no longer have clubs, bars, shows etc to book. There is real competition among entertainment agencies. I should have, but as yet I have not attempted to book myself in N.H.s. However, Gary and Donny are inspiring me to give it a try …
Ciao,
Jerry

Jerry, go for it - it will be the best move you'll ever make in this business. Last week, while performing at Riverview Health and Rehabilitation in Essex, MD, I came across a KJ duo, husband and wife team that I've known for several years. He came up to me, shook my hand and said, "I really want to thank you for turning me onto this aspect of entertainment. If I would have known it would have been this much fun and this profitable, I would have done this 20 years ago." His wife gave me a thumbs up, and said "Thanks Gary."

You're not gonna get rich, but you have more than enough talent to keep those jobs flowing. With a bit of promotion, direct mail advertising, and some legwork, you can work 7 days a week if you want to. I could easily book 500 jobs a year here, but I'm beginning to get like Don Mason - LAZY! Plus, I'm now at an age where I know I can no longer tolerate the same schedule I did a decade ago. I'll leave it to you young whippersnappers to take up the slack.

Some of the larger facilities have huge activities budgets. Most of the spending is left to the discretion of the ADs, and most of the ADs I know will not deal with agencies, at least that's the way it is here. And the agencies all seem to be competing for the high priced private parties, such as corporate banquets and similar ilk. The time consuming labor involved with getting their money from a Nursing Home, Assisted Living Center or Retirement Community, is really not profitable for them. Many of these facilities are owned by large, out of state corporations that must be either billed directly, or via invoicing through the AD, all of which takes at least 30 to 90 days to get a check. Because of this, I usually have up to $4,500 in accounts receivable at any given time. Checks come in the mail daily, but invoices also go out daily, just like any business. Most part time musicians and agencies don't like dealing with this aspect of the business, and that's just fine with me. I'll still be putting a lot of checks in the bank every week, while they're trying to find a cash and carry job, which no longer exists.

Good luck,

Gary

This must be a different area. In the 15 years I have been either a primary caregiver or working for a nursing home reform agency, I never heard even one entertainer who would dare try to get a job at any for profit club or restaurant I know of.

To a person these folks should NEVER open their mouths in public.


I've had lots of job offers, until people realize I'm the "enemy". Budgets sound like they're the same as in other areas...$100.00 or more per hour.

Knock yourself out, but this is absolutely not for me.


Russ