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Need advice for starting a band (for assisted living - nursing homes)
- Thread starter Sonoma Bass
- Start date
Older country goes over very well! The places I have gone seem to like Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash almost as much as Elvis!
Bluegrass is very popular at the senior centers here in New Jersey. From Bill Monroe to Billy Strings, it all goes over well IME. A couple of acoustic instruments and voices singing in harmony provides a lot of entertainment without needing a lot of equipment.
Songs that lend themselves to audience participation/sing-along are particularly popular. It seems that everyone likes to sing along to "You are My Sunshine" for example. Brings out a lot of smiles and happy faces!
Songs that lend themselves to audience participation/sing-along are particularly popular. It seems that everyone likes to sing along to "You are My Sunshine" for example. Brings out a lot of smiles and happy faces!
I volunteered with entertainment programs in our local senior centers pretty often when my late father was still with me because he enjoyed being active in our local ones.
I found many "retired" musicians there over the years.
Ask around your local senior centers.
I found many "retired" musicians there over the years.
Ask around your local senior centers.
As far as I can tell, received well. I also put a lot of effort into interacting with the audience as well. That helped. There ideally should be a front person and probably having someone who sings would be better. It also encourages them to sing along. I did some sing alongs with the patriotic tunes at the July 4th picnic when we played.
I have a trio that caters to the 60+ crowd.... high end country clubs and senior events.
VENUES - There are paid places... art in the park.. senior tent at a county fair... church events... senior living.
RECRUTING - look toward churches and roots music groups (americana, bluegrass etc)
MATERIAL - remember... the generation that's in assisted living brought you hendrix, beatles, zepplin, stones, etc. We find that traditional church tunes (circle be unbroken) patriotic songs and biggest up beat hits go over well.
PAY - you probably need to volenteer while you get your website and promo kit ready... Venues do have budgets, they're trained to say they're broke. Fairs and arts in the park normally have events.
MARKETING - many areas will have mini show case trade shows.
ADVICE - Stand up... have fun... be active... and stay after and speak with the participants. They're normally very lonely.
VENUES - There are paid places... art in the park.. senior tent at a county fair... church events... senior living.
RECRUTING - look toward churches and roots music groups (americana, bluegrass etc)
MATERIAL - remember... the generation that's in assisted living brought you hendrix, beatles, zepplin, stones, etc. We find that traditional church tunes (circle be unbroken) patriotic songs and biggest up beat hits go over well.
PAY - you probably need to volenteer while you get your website and promo kit ready... Venues do have budgets, they're trained to say they're broke. Fairs and arts in the park normally have events.
MARKETING - many areas will have mini show case trade shows.
ADVICE - Stand up... have fun... be active... and stay after and speak with the participants. They're normally very lonely.
eldoctorbass
Supporting Member
I recommend this movie: Film — Young@Heart. This is a local, elderly ensemble who covers interesting pop hits. I haven't played in the pit band, but play with people who are in it, and they rave about how this keeps the group alive and kicking. This isn't to help you with your project, just a note that, just because you are of a certain age doesn't mean you are shut off from hearing a new interpretation of Coldplay (the Young at Heart cover "Fix You").
This is in line with what I saw go over well when my dad and later my mom were in senior living.
It also jibes with what I’ve heard from a guitarist pal of mine who’s made most of his living as a solo act for this type of gig for like 20 years. Singalongs are big and between-song engagement really helps the attendees.
Tons of other good advice here; I'd just add that it's important to be aware of the many different flavors of facilities and know just what kind of audience you're playing for. There's independent living, independent/assisted living, assisted living, assisted living with memory care, nursing homes, nursing with memory care, rehab, etc. While the age groups are broadly similar, the state of mind of the folks living there covers a really wide spectrum.
Bravo for going into this - it's a real source of joy for a lot of people in senior living.
Didn't have time to read all the replies but jazz players will be familiar with these kinds of gigs and that pool of players will be your best bet to find people. It's not too hard to find people who enjoy the experience. I love playing nursing homes and always look forward to the experience when it comes up.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I’ve been playing with a piano-bass-vocalist trio in Senior facilities for a couple years in the San Francisco Bay Area. We play 3-4 times a month and get $200 for an hour’s performance. We do the Great American Songbook jazz standards, and that repertoire goes over quite well.
Yes, I have experience with playing live at nursing homes. My take-away experience is...acoustic instruments preferred over electric. Yes I played Jbass but with much more mid/bass tones over treble. I played a Squire fretless Jbass. The home audience likes a familiar rhythm, but not loud. This is easy common sense decisions. Think of your audience.
My father grew up in North Jersey, and although he would be slightly older than the demographic we’re talking about (91 if he were alive), he had told me that rock and roll was really off the radar for most young white people in the Northeast until Elvis. He didn’t hear anything like it until he got to Parris Island as a recruit. He liked some of it, especially Nellie Lutcher, but the real cultural touch point for most men of his era were Cowboy movies/comics/tv shows, and country music, even up north. Remember, before 1968 there was no FCC limit on AM transmission, so on a clear night you could pick up radio stations hundreds of miles away. So, although he didn’t know Frankie Lymon or Little Richard, he knew Hank Williams, Red Foley, Rose Maddox, and his favorite, The Sons of the Pioneers. I’m sure he would have dug your band.
You can get a lot of mileage out of an acoustic guitar, a capo , and a bunch of Hank Williams tunes (stay away from the weepers, though).
Excuse me if its been suggested earlier, but why not get a questioneer made up and passed out to the people in the various places you are going to perform at, asking what style, era, favorites they would want to hear? I know this wouldn't work with some of the more debilitated residents, but I'm sure there are some who would enjoy filling one out. There are people in nursing homes that aren't that old, for one reason or another. Chubby Checker recently did a gig here at a senior center and did mostly early '60's music and Beatle songs. They had to add another show because of ticket demand. I don't think you have to stick with Guy Lombardo. Heck, I'm 76 and I sure know what I'd like to hear if I was in that situation. Good luck!
Hurricane Jimmie
Supporting Member
So Anyway, years ago I was in a Dixieland horn band that played a lot of these venues. It helped me get back to playing off charts. The gigs were easy, usually one hour in the afternoon and all I needed was my PBJ Cub amp. I played one NYE and was done at 4:00 PM.
The band was mostly retired music teachers and physicians who just wanted to keep playing. Everyone was invited to play, so there could be between 6-12 in the band at any gig. Sometimes there was no drummer, so they relied on me to carry the beat.
There was very little money. In fact, I think the BL reached into his own pocket to pay people.
One thing I'd recommend is using a Real Fake Book for your arrangements. The band I was in had charts written for community college level students. These were too complicated for our group's skill level and practice schedule. We often had two or three endings as folks got lost on repeats and codas.
I'd recommend keeping the arrangements simple to get started.
The band was mostly retired music teachers and physicians who just wanted to keep playing. Everyone was invited to play, so there could be between 6-12 in the band at any gig. Sometimes there was no drummer, so they relied on me to carry the beat.
There was very little money. In fact, I think the BL reached into his own pocket to pay people.
One thing I'd recommend is using a Real Fake Book for your arrangements. The band I was in had charts written for community college level students. These were too complicated for our group's skill level and practice schedule. We often had two or three endings as folks got lost on repeats and codas.
I'd recommend keeping the arrangements simple to get started.
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While you're right to focus earlier, I'm always amazed when I see retirement home aged people go nuts for later stuff - we had several people of that generation up grooving to Uptown Funk (and the like) last night. But you really can't go wrong with a lot of Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys etc. I played in a band that had a handful of older songs (Johnny Rivers, Chuck Berry, Sam and The Shams, etc) which did go over well in general, but over the years, we evolved to exclude them. I've played several retirement community gigs and the folks just love the nostalgia of hearing stuff they haven't heard in some time. I gotta say, it's pretty rewarding
I think the bigger focus would be the right people. IMO, you want to find a handful of retired musicians, who can still bring it, but don't have to worry about midweek conflicts and don't get worked up about pay. I suspect ideally, it would be an acoustic act (no drum kit) so that it can easily be scaled for indoors or out. There's a lot of folk music and "softer" 70s stuff that is better when performed acoustically.
While I'd have no problem being in this type of band, I doubt I'd be interested in subbing for it. Once you learn the songs, they're pretty much with you forever, but learning a bunch of songs that might not be portable for a low paying gig does not work for me. Not saying never, but, it'd need to be a vey compelling.
I think the bigger focus would be the right people. IMO, you want to find a handful of retired musicians, who can still bring it, but don't have to worry about midweek conflicts and don't get worked up about pay. I suspect ideally, it would be an acoustic act (no drum kit) so that it can easily be scaled for indoors or out. There's a lot of folk music and "softer" 70s stuff that is better when performed acoustically.
While I'd have no problem being in this type of band, I doubt I'd be interested in subbing for it. Once you learn the songs, they're pretty much with you forever, but learning a bunch of songs that might not be portable for a low paying gig does not work for me. Not saying never, but, it'd need to be a vey compelling.
I really appreciate all these ideas and real world input!
What are some things to consider in performing to seniors with severe disabilities, esp. in memory care units? My mom's assisted living center has a memory care unit attached, and I'm not even sure if it provides entertainment there like it does for the more mobile residents.
I've also heard of situations where a resident might suddenly cause a disturbing scene in the middle of a performance. Hopefully staff are standing by! But what's the protocol to handle disability-caused disruptions?
What are some things to consider in performing to seniors with severe disabilities, esp. in memory care units? My mom's assisted living center has a memory care unit attached, and I'm not even sure if it provides entertainment there like it does for the more mobile residents.
I've also heard of situations where a resident might suddenly cause a disturbing scene in the middle of a performance. Hopefully staff are standing by! But what's the protocol to handle disability-caused disruptions?
I have spent 10 years in & out of nursing homes visiting family members & seeing some of the acts
that perform. Their age was in the 80's. A big favorite for them was an Elvis/Roy Orbison solo act.
I have subbed a few times with a group of 8 ladies on ukeleles, known as the Ukeladies.
We back them up with guitar & bass player.
Their set was popular show tunes, Swing, Elvis & even TV show themes. 3 of them sing.
I experienced the magic of music. Quite a few of the residents have Alzeimers and do not
respond at all. While playing a swing tune a lady who was still in her chair looked up, smiled, then got up and danced.
Her family was ecstatic. When the tune was over she sat down & went back to her condition.
I was glad to do the gig & experience this. BTW most gigs pay $25 to $100 per act depending on the home.
You're a good Samaritan for doing this.
that perform. Their age was in the 80's. A big favorite for them was an Elvis/Roy Orbison solo act.
I have subbed a few times with a group of 8 ladies on ukeleles, known as the Ukeladies.
We back them up with guitar & bass player.
Their set was popular show tunes, Swing, Elvis & even TV show themes. 3 of them sing.
I experienced the magic of music. Quite a few of the residents have Alzeimers and do not
respond at all. While playing a swing tune a lady who was still in her chair looked up, smiled, then got up and danced.
Her family was ecstatic. When the tune was over she sat down & went back to her condition.
I was glad to do the gig & experience this. BTW most gigs pay $25 to $100 per act depending on the home.
You're a good Samaritan for doing this.
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