+1

Gary

What Gary said

That’s why I hope arranger manufacturers don’t move too far away from the traditional styles that seem to appeal to the older crowds and to me, as well.

great article I do many senior shows and get the same reaction in fact I do lots of main stream show as well and find senior show are more rewarding most of the time it great when you can make a impact on someones day.

All the trasitional styles have been done, and could be loaded as user styles ...

But believe me, they will stick to the traditional styles, maybe adding some newer age musical styles, but they will never abandon their cutrrent styles..


Back on topic, i can really see how performing for older people and giving them their necessary rays of sunshine can be very very rewarding.

His story is my story. That's exactly why I got into the senior market and I've been a very happy camper ever since. It's the best move I ever made and I hope I can do it for the next 20 years as well,

What decades of music do you guys include by percentage, knowing it differs somewhat by average age of the audience.

If I were to guess, I would say:

30's and 40's of all types-40%
50's and 60's -20%
70's and 80's -20%
country -20%

I suspect I should increase the newer, but I am always well received so it's difficult to know.

I am speaking of NH or assisted living venues.

I'm using approximately 35 - 40% 50s - 60s and it is on the increase ... there can be a wide variety there between Doo-Wop, RnR, Beatles, Pop, etc. ... I find that as I get older, more residents are in MY age group ...
The other genres break down to about 20% or so of each ...

Hi ... I too play at many Retirement Communities and such ... and I try to ask the Activity Directors about the "age range" (as well as "observer" it with my eyes). It seems that most places (I play at about 10-12 different places in central NC, USA), they usually tell me that the predominant age is people in there 80s. Some in their 90s, some in their 70s. But the 'average' from what I'm told (and it sort of matches what I observe) is that the people are mostly 75-95 in age. So, I try to think about "what kind of music were they listening to as teenagers and young adults", and play mostly that. Music from the Big Band era, Swing era, Ballroom, etc. always seems to go over well for them. And a few classical pieces. But, time does march on ...

As the years go by a person that is now 80 (for example) in 2015, that person was 20 years old in 1955. I think they say that people's "favorite" music is the music the "grew up with" (their teen years and young-adult years). So, this 80 year old was 15 years old in 1950 and 25 years old in 1960. So, they are bound to like 50s and early 60s music. Someone 90 today was 15 years old in 1940 and 25 years old in 1950, so they will likely enjoy music from the 1940s and early 1950s.
So as the years roll by, even these older folks are going to enjoy 50s and 60s music more, and there will gradually be less people in the audience that enjoyed 1930s and 1940s music.

I do find that more and more, when I play "early rock and roll", in nursing and retirement places, for the most part they love it! I think they enjoy the "energy" of it (and the "Beat" of course). Plenty of them still want to hear 1940s music though. So I tend to mix in pre-1950s and am gradually doing more 1950s and 1960s music, and even a bit of 1970s music.

30s - 40s = 1%

50s - 60s = 60%

70s -80s 39%

Gary

So Gary, does that mean that you haven't learned a new tune in 25 years? Just asking :_) .

chas

I threw together a little 'calculator' in Excel, you put in the current year, a person's age today, and it tells you a few interesting things. Saved me from trying to think about it all "in my head" when I was trying to envision when an 80 year old (for example) graduated high school or was a young teen, etc. It's attached.

try it out ... OOPS, I found out that this Forum does not accept Excel files as a valid filetype. So, instead of attaching it here, I've put it on my DropBox:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17841074/Years%20and%20Age%20Calculator.xlsx

-Jim

I should add that I sort of base "what I play" upon the requests that I get too - and I still get TONS of requests for tunes that are from the 1920 thru 1940s, so I still play a fair amount of those at places where "older folks" reside. So at the retirement homes and such, based on the requests (I ask for requests at every gig) still are most predominant as 1930s-1940s songs, so I still do a good amount of that in addition to the 1950s and 1960s (and occasionally newer) stuff.

When I'm playing a restaurant or private party or whatever, the "%" values change dramatically of course! (depending on the event and age-range attending) ...

Chas, are you trying to tell me there have been new songs published in the last 25 years? I just play what my audiences want to hear and what they frequently request, and that includes the younger audiences. Those spring breakers love Jimmy Buffett, old country and Elvis. I guess things must be different in central Georgia.

Cheers,

Gary

It doesn't matter what you play......It's HOW YOU PLAY & SING IT!

This next song is about my desperate struggle to please, and my chronic craving for approval...I really really really really hope you like it.

I sincerely believe that song recognition is an important aspect of this business. I've performed some really neat songs that got absolutely zero response from the audience. Why? Because they had never heard it before. However, when you perform a song the audience knows, it tends to trigger an instant, positive response.

Today, I played for an audience of folks ranging from 55 to 75 years of age, fired up some country rock songs, then switched gears a bit and did Saving All My Love For You. I changed the words a bit to fit the gender, the ladies absolutely loved it, the dance floor was filled to capacity, and the gal that runs the place came up to me and said "WOW - I've never heard a guy do that song, but I really loved what you did with it." I use a specialized song created for Yamaha arranger keyboards, and no Chas, I coouldn't hit those extremely high notes if you were to tighten my shorts with a pair of vice grip pliers. I just sang them an octave lower, and smoothed it out. They loved it.

I also did some old Merle Haggert songs, and the usual upbeat assortment of 50s through early 80s stuff. After the job, I went for an MRI of my back - it ain't pretty. The neatest part about it was explaining to my 7-year-old grandson when happened. He wanted to know why those young girls made me take off my clothes and put me into that machine that looked like a robot that would eat me. He was pretty happy when his pop-pop came back to the waiting room an hour later.

All the best,

Gary

MY grandson would have already spent his inheritance before the test was over.



chas

Gary funny stuff......
I really enjoyed reading some of these older posts...great topic too.

The ideal venue for entertainers, if you overlook the very bad aspects of the business.

Not so much for the musician who struggles with interpersonal entertaining. I'd be run off the stage in 5 minutes.

I tried a few times, but found that my time is better spent advocating for background checks, staffing minimums, control of the dietary departments, certifications, etc.

That's what I know how to do, and it's not more important; just a different approach at trying to help.

Keep up the good work.

I will, too.


Russ

The sad thing about this thread is when I decided to read it through again, there was a post by my dear, departed friend and wonderful musician/singer/entertainer, Joe Ayala. I really miss talking with Joe, something we did nearly every week for many years.

Chas often wonders if I learned any new song in the past 25 years. The answer is a resounding yes, but new is a relative term, Chas, especially when you are our age. I wonder if learning some ZZ Top songs counts? Hmmmmmm! Wow! Just checked, Sharp Dressed Man came out in 1982. I guess Chas was right. Hell, Margarettaville is 41 years old. Hard to believe. It's even harder for me to believe that I'll be 78 next month. Oh well, I ain't dead yet!

All the best,

Gary

"NEW" is a relative thing ... If I learn a song that I've never played or sang before, I don't care what decade it might be from, to ME it's a new song ...

But why are we posting something I wrote over 3 years ago? Haven't I said something dumb more recently? ....or, are you just playing 'chas' greatest hits'?

chas

Ya keep asking me the same thing, Chas. And, yes, I enjoy playing your greatest hits, or reruns of them.

Cheers,

Gary