Quote:
Originally posted by Bill in Dayton:


My point is there is no set pattern do this, this, this and that and bang, you're in. I've had dozens of conversations with Activity Directors who literally throw press kits away...They'll be polite if the performer calls, but they have been burnt too many times by a slickly produced press kit, CD, photo, etc. They book the act based on that and then can't believe how lame it turned out more often than not.

My approach was to walk in...ask to speak to the AD and then describe my service in 30 seconds or less. I gave her my biz card and offered to play a few tunes right here, right now...85% of the time the AD would grab a few residents, walk me to a piano and turn me lose...20 seconds of small talk and I've figured out what somebody's favorite song is...I then play/sing it and so on. From about 5 minutes with me she knows for sure I'm good with the residents, I can actually do what I claim and that the residents like me. No press kit, no video, no cd, zip...

IMO, it was all about setting myself apart from everyone else. Walking in, on their turf and offering to put my skills on the line right now went a long way toward opening hundreds of doors and contacts for me.

My approach was 100% success IF I got to sit down at a piano.

Its about product differentiation, in the long run. Nursing homes already have plenty of entertainers. Sell your self and your skillset in a way that sets you apart from the guys already getting the jobs if you can...



I would read what Bill wrote here, and then read it again. Then I would meditate over it for 30 minutes, and then......read it AGAIN!

The senior circuit right now is pretty much discombobulated. Too many entertainers, volunteers, high school groups, church groups, low budgets, flakey AD's, too many rules and regulations, not to mention the thick skin you must possess to put up with some "audience gripes!"

One method I use is to play for nothing on the condition that if they want to book me again, the cost is "double" for the 2nd time and back to basic after that.

Correct: AD's do NOT have time to read through any descriptive letter more than 10 words long. I'm on good terms with many of them and I ask them periodically their current method of booking. Common denominator is most of what comes in my FAX or mail goes into the "circular file."

The BEST way to get into the nursing home circuit is what Bill said. Be DIFFERENT from the competition...offer something uncommon in the field but still attractive to the seniors.

My act consists of playing one song after another.....boom, boom, boom, to give them the most bang for the buck. In between songs, I'll talk about notable celebrities from the era...who made what song famous, who was the bandleader, even automobiles, foods, etc. I worked for years memorizing hundreds of songs and lyrics. Now I can do an hour standing on my head with no format in mind other than playing what I feel is needed at the moment to a particular audience...without the distraction of sifting through music.

The all-time best way to break into any circuit, is to be as good as you can and let the music speak for itself!

Lucky