Hi Gary.......I appreciate your taking the time to write this all out, but I suspect we’re living in two different hemispheres. In my area the people are uncivilized savages and I’m thinking in your area they’ve probably all gone to “charm school.”

I’m half kidding and half serious. It’s a free-for-all where I live. A gold mine of nursing homes but with AD’s who either abuse or exploit their power and generally it’s both. I have the disadvantage of having gone down this path for 30 years so I can’t help but compare what it used to be like as to how it is now and I’m having a hard time adjusting.

It’s not about getting along with them, (I get along with most everyone). it’s that they’re incompetent……no…….I meant INCOMPETENT. They couldn’t run a nursery school much less a palatial senior facility. What’s happening here is that it’s no longer small clubhouse size places. These places now are like country homes…….massive and consequently impersonal. The more massive, the more it’s like a business, and the more out-of-touch everyone is with each other, Various departments that are no longer integrated with each other.

As for the paraphernalia you might want to send, you could send each one a BMW. They’ll take it and forget within 24 hours who gave it to them.

I say this, not egotistically, I do exactly what you do. Book the job, FAX an immediate confirmation, a week before the job send another “FAX of confirmation,” show up an hour early and ready to play, wander among the residents beforehand doing small talk, start on time and go overtime sometimes, give them a show that leaves them begging for more, go home and immediately FAX the invoice, etc. In other words, show the AD how dependable and responsible and musically entertaining I am.

None of that matters any more. You’re forgotten as soon as you walk out that door. And who is getting the work now? Those who go out for nothing or minimum wages……volunteers, high school jazz bands, retirees, relatives and friends of the AD’s, members of bands who went solo, and…..the worst of all…..amateur musicians who are stars in their own minds, etc. etc. etc.

Well, I’m glad you had me write this out. I was just thinking this morning how times have changed and I’m not changing with the times. It’s clearly not how good you are anymore. No one really cares about good entertainment that they don’t mind paying for because they care about the residents. It’s now big business cost-cutting wherever they can and about personnel in each of these joints not giving a hoot about anything but themselves and their paycheck. I don’t feel bad for me as much as I feel bad for the residents on the receiving end of some of the non-entertaining entertainers that are doing the circuit now.

So, I agree with you about your sales strategy under normal conditions and maybe living in a more sophisticated area. My state has deteriorated to the equivalent of a third world country. It’s called survival of the fittest around here.

Anyhow, I’m seriously considering moving now. I was going to post eventually about who’s living in other parts of the States (or other countries) and how it is for THEM wherever they are. I’m starting to see the handwriting on the wall about how the music scene is changing rapidly. If I could find a way to live in Europe, I’d do it in a flash. People just love music there, and you’re treated with dignity and respect. And you even get paid!

Almost forgot to give credit where it’s due. The few long-time accounts that I kept are manned by the finest of the fine. And the common denominator is none of them are kids. All professional adults who know their stuff.

I’ve often wondered how you type so well. Is it you or Dragon?

Mark