Earl,

You can make a pretty good living working the senior circuit, nursing homes, assisted living centers, retirement communities and senior centers. Add to them, some over 55 communities that seem to be springing up everywhere you look.

I also managed to make a few bucks playing political fund raisers, which can be extremely lucrative. Keep in mind that most of the folks attending these events are relatively old, mostly in their 60s and up to the low 80s. The majority of them are either wannabe politicians or people that are looking for some political favoritism, such as building contractors, engineering firms, architectural firms, and lawyers who wish to be appointed to judgeships. They are paying huge sums of money to attend these functions, often more than $2,000 a plate for finger food the caterer bought at BJ's Wholesale Club or Costco's. Once you get in with the promoter, which is not easy, but still doable, you can name your own price and usually get it. During most election years I was usually able to pull down 30 to 45 2-hour jobs.

Much of your total income will depend upon a couple factors. First and foremost, the area where you live will have a big impact on how much you can charge. The deep south, especially the southern, coastal states, FL, LA, MS, TX are notoriously low paying. It can be a real struggle there to get more than $75 to $100 per hour, but it can be done. The highest paying areas are the mid-Atlantic states, parts of New England, and California. Nearly everyone I know in these areas pulls down $125 to $150 per hour for the senior circuit and $500 to $600 for private parties of 3 hours or more.

New Years Eve, which is always lucrative, can be even more so if you throw in a couple NYE day jobs at the Assisted Living and Retirement Communities at your regular rate. Then later, after a good supper and a short nap, head off for the 9-p.m. till 1-a.m. job where single OMB entertainers can pull down $800 to $1,500 or more, depending on their market area.

As you can see, if you are healthy and energetic enough to go balls to the wall, 7 days a week, which was my schedule, you can easily average 10 jobs a week, which at $125 per hour, translate into $1,250 a week, or $65,000 a year, and that's if you didn't do any of the more lucrative jobs. Now, if you can't make it on $50,000 to $65,000 a year, put your wife and girlfriend to work, both of them! And, if one of them happens to be a good singer, duos command a better paycheck - something to think about.

Of course, in doing this number of jobs, you will a significant amount of transportation expenses to contend with, all of which will be deductible.

PS: I have a lot of beautiful satin shirts with matching ties, and incredible, embroidered silk vests, size XL that I am willing to sell at dirt cheap prices. Unfortunately, most of the guys on this forum are a bit larger than XL, or they would have sold a long time ago.

Hope this helps,

Gary