Glenn-

I've heard stories about some guys in the Tri-State area who get booked on the premise of providing musical entertainment who once they start...

*Then spend half the time trying to tell jokes....(A couple throughout the hour is plenty, usually...these acts are often short on material.)

*Allow the hour with the residents assembled to become almost a "private show" for 1-2 residents...(As you know, some residents will try and "dominate" the program with their requests...we're there for all of them...)

*Play a few songs then say the magic words, "So...how many of you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?"

(...Want to get fired quick? Book yourself as a secular, non-religious style performer then try & sneek something like that in. That is probably the number #1 beef I hear from AD's around here. )

...What some performer's fail to realize is that Activity Director's try to program each month for the entire resident population. THEY ALREADY HAVE OTHERS COMING IN TO DO THE RELIGIOUS STUFF!!! They usually get droves of free, faith based entertaiment and if you start preaching in the middle of the "Friday Happy Hour" it's not going to work out very well...

Lastly...For God's sake...stay OUT of the resident's room unless you're escorted there by a staff member who stays with you while you're there. Earlier this year, a popular NH entertainer got booted from a great account because he was found in a resident's room, with the door closed. I've been invited into several residents rooms-and 95% of the time I won't even consider it. The usual exceptions are when a regular is too ill to attend the activity and I'm asked to stop by her (or his) room to say hi. Maybe sing a song or something...Those are usually sad moments for me because I understand this person I've entertained for a few years, laughed with, etc... is about to pass on. Its part of the business, of course...and I consider it kind of an honor to be asked to do such things...

*Also, don't accept anything of consequence from the residents. This includes cash, checks, offers of sex, trinkets, cars, clothes, food, medicine, etc. If they do offer you something like cash...politely refuse...if they don't get it, then nicely accept it...and the second they are out of your site, walk immediately to the AD and tell her who gave this to you and that you think it should get returned to them ASAP.

I'll bet you have a few stories like this, eh Glenn?

Bill in Dayton