My wife and I are hanging up gigging here in MN Nov. - April.

This is for two reasons. (1). The main reason...It’s just too damn cold during these months to be out and about hauling equipment and (2) my wife continues to lose interest in performing.


That said, I have been toying with an idea that I don’t think is going to fly...but I keep thinking about it.

I wonder about placing a keyboard and amp in an assisted living place, leaving it there, and coming in to play for dinner music every so often.

The ideal set up would be a keyboard I could midi to using something like an SD90 or Virtual Arranger.

Then, all I would haul is me, and a laptop size bag with a VA or console.

Here’s the interesting thing.

Most of the places I play at have this nice piece of furniture/piano that just sits gathering dust because no one plays them.

One place I frequent has an older Yamaha Clavinova that the activity people use by playing the demo songs. They say that’s all it gets used for.

Thoughts?

I still love to play, but am getting increasingly tired of hauling equipment to gigs and, at the same time, freezing my a... off.

😊

Not to be a cynic, but my first thought would be 'how do you know the equipment will be there the next time you go to play?'

Funny you mention about the freezing weather ... I had an opportunity (if I wanted to go after it) for a steady Saturday night gig in a really nice restaurant, but I didn't push for it because 1) at this point in my life I really don't want a steady Saturday night gig, and 2) the place is about 45 minutes NORTH of where I live, and with Winter coming I did not want the hassle of the cold and snow ... just getting old, I guess ...

Here’s an off the wall idea, why don’t you head to Florida during the winter months. No snow, sleet or real cold weather. I’ve been blessed to do exactly that, I play a weekly 1 hour piano solo gig in the lobby of a medical center in The Villages Florida. They have a Yamaha DGX 650. Great gig I just show up and play then leave with no equipment to haul. The lobby is so ornate you’d think you were in an upscale hotel .

Steve, you just love to make me jealous, don't you ?!? ...

Here in Texas these facilities that house the elderly often employ some shady characters, even the "upscale" places. The attrition rate among staff is very high. I have heard of even activity directors stealing from residents and reports of abuse of residents is common. Maybe things are better up north?

It's that way everywhere. Terrible industry. Government ratings are discouraging.

R.

"I wonder about placing a keyboard and amp in an assisted living place, leaving it there, and coming in to play for dinner music every so often. "

Tony, sorry my friend, it wasn’t supposed to make you jealous!!

All things sound great in theory, even if it doesn't get stolen, it may be mistreated. Like knocked over, coffee spilt on it or worse, and will your insurance cover it when they know it is left unprotected?

Allan

The first part is possible, but if the instrument is insured for professional use, they can't exclude how often it is attended by the insured. At least, I have never known of such a clause in 40 years as an insurance agent.

First and foremost, I assume you were going to do this for free. When you do this, you take money from the pockets of those that charge for this service. Additionally, you become known as the guy that will play for free, thereby eliminating your paying gigs. Finally, that amp will likely be stolen by the next day after you leave it. Other than that, go for it!

Gary

Fer crying out loud, just do the gigs. A bit of cold weather? Shades of a certain U.S. president syndrome showing through.

Let's keep politics out of the discussion, please ...

All you have to do is get the venue to agree to replace (at full retail), repair, or reimburse you for any damage or loss within 30 days of occurrance or discovery, in writing of course..

Yeah, that's all ... ?!?

I have left equipment on the job for years. Mostly restaurants and lounges. I usually leave junkers...less expensive models not likely to increase in value. I've lost 2 Gibson's, lots of pedals, a tele case and more. I have replaced two Leslie motors because someone went in on off hours, turned on the organ and left it on with the brake engaged.


leaving the equipment was my choice. could not move it all every night when working 6 nights a week. This was over 50 year time period. Not bad, considering the alternative. Part of the cost of doing business.

People will fool with your stuff. One when I was in graduate school,I worked bar tender 4 hours in the morning and played my night job. At the time, I had double necks, classical, banjo, mandolin, bass, jazz guitar. vibes...lots of stuff on stage, mostly for show. About once a week, someone would go to the stage and try to play something. Can you imagine the reaction
when the bartender yelled "Hey, keep your damn hands off the instruments".

Ah, the memories!

Russ

I've always left equipment, usually a Hammond C3 and Leslie 122, in clubs where I was playing more than one night. Never had a problem but then, who's going to move a C3. Took the mics though.

chas

I had a Friday/Saturday gig in a place where I knew the owners... depending on the weather, I would sometimes leave everything set up, covered with a big table cloth... but usually I would just take the KB home ...

But leave it in a place I didn't know? ... Nah ...

I left my b3 for more than 5 years at the knickerbocker hotel in
chicago. lit was on stage and the bar was locked. one night I went on stage and there was blood on the keys and 4 notes were
broken. I was able to get new keys for the next night but about a week later I was served a notice that I was being sued along with the hotel from the person that broke my keyboard for his injuries while playing my Hammond. The hotel took care of it by
reporting him to the police for breaking and entering. Never heard from him again and the hotel paid for my repairs. I was lucky.
MEL

There's a huge difference between leaving gear in a nite club or restaurant lounge, than leaving it in an activities room of a nursing home.

Good luck,

Gary

Tx for the comments all.

First off, theft is a low concern here...maybe due to a freezing cold, freeze your a... off climate.

I haven’t approached anyone yet. Part of the reason is that, entertainment for residents, is just not that big a deal here. No big deal if you don’t show up to do a gig...at least ask AD’s.

A while back, before a gig, I sat playing on(what I consider a pretty useless Clavinova used only for demos)..to kill some time before I could set up. I played some hymns. Very basic left hand and simple melodies. I could do a lot more with arranger functions.

Residents started gathering just to enjoy the music. They do enjoy the music...wish AD’s understood that.

That gave me the idea of a keyboard/piano.

No, I wouldn’t do it for free.

Maybe it would be a good challenge for you to just play on what they have. It's a great thing to not to have to rely on auto-accompaniment. You sing too, right? With a nice vocal a simple accompaniment, your set! If the crowd is small, you really don't even need a mic/speaker. I've been told by more than one AD, that they actually prefer "acoustic" entertainers.