Has anyone tried moving out front, away from the keyboard to mingle with the crowd, either by just singing with a mic, or using an instrument/singing?

When doing nursing homes with my friend Dean Mathis, I would walk out into the audience and give away stuffed animals while singing Teddy Bear. The ladies loved it!
Now, I occasionally take a guitar into the main dining room, separate room from where I play, to sing Happy Birthday.
I'm afraid to leave the keyboard playing and walk away from it with just a mic because it looks too much like karaoke.

Funny about the stuffed animals - good idea. I was thinking more of a keytar out front.

Keytar would be great. They could see that you are playing.
Advice: Keep some extra bears around in case one of the old ladies gets her feelings hurt by not getting one. Don't ask how I know this.
I would get my stuffed animals from Everything's A Dollar store. Sometimes Goodwill.

I don’t stray far from my arranger, since it’s an attractive toy to little kids, who find it enticing and want to push all the buttons and keys.

all the time with cordless Mic it breaks the patter in a show and connect you to your Audience.

Many years ago, when I was working the nite club circuit, I would use a special style for the Pink Panther, mute everything but the finger snap and bass, hit an Am and walk through the audience with a wireless mic singing Fever to the ladies and flirting with them. They loved it! Not sure if the boyfriends and husbands did, though. I only did this with a few songs, and most of the time I remained at the Keyboard.

Good luck,

Gary

My FB friend and SZ member Jerry Trecroce plays out front with a keytar and sometimes accordion too. Look like his audience enjoys his show.

Wen I play at a country club, I'm all over the place. I do guitar solos at tables and in different locations, using a wireless.

For events, I use a Roland Lucina with a wireless. Not a great piano sound, but gets the job done.

Sometimes, I go from lounge to dining room, using two completely different set-ups.

And, I play outside for picnics/outside meetings. I use Various wireless and battery powered pieces. It's fun to switch up!

R.

I had an Italian friend who played mandolin; on occasions he would come with me on my job. We would make our rounds around the tables with my acoustic guitar, mandolin and sing.

On seniors jobs my wife walk through with her puppet while I was playing. There were times when she got more attention than me.
(She’s my wife so that’s OK) Smile

John C.