Most facilities here won't even book piano players anymore as they say it puts the residents to sleep when they want to PARTY lol!! One AD told me " Why should we pay some guy who comes in sits at our piano, back facing the audience, no singing, and plays piano songs that put the whole place to sleep?" I just shook my head and told her I couldn't answer that but I know one thing when I am here it's party time!
Yeah, we've had that discussion before. Some people don't find anything in good, high-quality music unless it's party music including vocals.
As a pianist, you have to find the right places where the audience cherishes good instrumental music, and hope staff grasps the taste of their residence, too. I know some old people's residences which organize both plain party music events and classical concerts, and both types of events draw a lot of interest. And, in between, decent background live piano music for a nice restaurant/café atmosphere. Without automatic styles and singing.