One more thing I'd like to suggest. You may think it trivial, but it's one of the most potent weapons in my arsenal. Someone taught me this years ago. I don't think I would have figured it out on my own!

Memorize the words to every, that's EVERY, song that you play. The reason being that if you're playing the songs they can relate to, almost every person will be singing the lyrics in their head (as you're playing the music). The "words" have to match the notes you're playing, otherwise it will throw them off.

Many times I've listened to musicians playing a well-known song but they throw in notes that don't belong, or they leave out notes that should be included, or the timing is off (in relation to the words). It's very hard to sing a song to yourself when the "notes don't match."

In playing to a senior audience, the most effective thing you can do is WATCH your audience every second and make sure that what you're playing is getting through to most of them in some way. It will pay off in repeat bookings.

Lucky