Actually there are more venues where I live hiring single and duos now than there were even a few years ago. Karaoke seems to be finally dying a much-deserved slow death.
There are only a couple of arranger players around here, so most of these jobs are now being done by guitarist/vocalists playing and singing with pre-recorded tracks. The most successful of them make their own background tracks. And these guys are very good, I must add.
In addition there are a few piano players still finding work at some of the high-end dinner clubs.
Also, we have five casinos within a couple of miles of each other. Each of them has entertainment every night, and often two separate bands on the weekends. Most are local, but some famous or used-to-be-famous acts as well.
I disagree with my good friend Gary about the nursing homes paying more. TOP dollar in these parts for a NH is 100. for an hour. Most won't pay that and there are lots of people doing it free "to help the old people". Their hearts are in the right place, but it's the big companies they are helping.
Anyway, that's an hour of playing. It also takes time to drive there, unload, set up, pack up again, drive home. You must allow time after arrival just in case something doesn't work as it is supposed to. Realistically it takes several hours depending on how far it is. Traffic here is MUCH busier during the day than it is at night. And, these days, most of the NHs are owned by huge companies that make you submit an invoice then wait a minimum of 30 days to get paid. You have to spend time very day keeping up with submitting and processing invoices and following up on slow payments. Plus, you must carefully keep up with every imaginable expense because that 100 bucks doesn't go far after taxes. Correct me if I'm wrong Gary.
I know one fairly successful arranger player who makes more in tips than the nursing homes pay. And, I don't mind playing three or four hours; in fact I love to play and sing; that's why I do it!
If you go to all the trouble of transporting gear, setting up, etc., you may as well play a while, right?!
I'm fortunate enough to be able to leave everything set up nearly all the time and not have to move unless I take an outside job, which I rarely do these days.
I have every day free to fish or play golf, all day. I don't care to go out at night much, unless I'm getting paid!
These days, I only choose to work two or three nights a week, so if I want to take a trip or short vacation, I can do that.
There are two sides to every story. Sometimes more, and I must admit it is extremely gratifying to play for the folks at the nursing homes.
There's an entire different story I could tell about when my friend and I worked nursing homes all over this state and parts of two others. Won't go into it here, but I've explained it in the past. It was very lucrative.