Performing for Seniors?

[guitpic1]

Anyone performing for mostly seniors?  I mean nursing homes, assisted living etc?  What's are your experiences like?  Any special issues to deal with?

Tx

[Fred Smith]

There are many people here who perform for seniors' homes. There have been many discussions on the subject. Just browse the gigging forum.

Regards,
Fred

[billtracy]

I have been doing it for the past eight years. My advice:

1. Play songs that folks in the 60-90 year age range (app.) will be familiar with. I see many people that think they can go in and play whatever they want. This may be true to some extent if the performer is exceptional. But most people of any age group will want to hear songs they know and like.

2. Dress professionally, I think older folks appreciate it. I wear dress pants/shirt/shoes from spring until fall and dress jeans/shirt in the winter months. Play at a reasonable volume.

3. Treat the folks like you would want to be treated and like you would treat any other age group-with kindness and respect. Take time to talk to them before and after the show-sometimes that will mean as much as the music if they don't get many visitors.

[Denn]

Hello, I have been playing in retirement homes for many years now. Just remember that many people there are not so well in the hearing area. Some have hearing aids that have to be tuned to what is being played, so, no very high screaming notes or thumping bass. For the most part on my Tyros 4 I have reduced the voices by an octave and even then some bits are too high. Examples of this are the draw-bars on some of the organ flutes settings. Drop the voice by one octave using the button on the board and the high pitch screams through. Just be aware of this.
Download the copyright free list from the web and most of the songs there are very familiar to the residents. I play songs from my era (I am 77) so I get along well with the residents. I just can't call them "oldies" as some are younger than me.
Lastly, play like no one was listening.    

[guitpic1]

Tx for the replies.  I just started solo gigs at assisted living places etc.  good advice here.

[1-man-band-berlin]

I was lucky, because I know, what my uncle born in 1930 likes and this was a good idea for the song selection. Also, what music my parents like, born in the mid 1940's.
I grew up in the 1970's were James Last was popular, were we had in Germany the TV show "hitparade", was with German songs only and the artists were requested to sing live to semi playbacks. Was listening much radio, they had music from the 1950's and 1960's.
I do all these music, but one time I thought about to complete a duo to a band, visited a gig, was a tea time dance for people above 60 years and I noticed, that newer pop would work too, they played "Sha La La" by the Vengaboys and "Mambo #5" by Lou Bega. Also Elvis Presley works fine too.
I like it to play music, that the people know, but that isn't found on the CD samplers, as "I was Kaiser Bill's batman".
The stereotype, that your music has to be between Mantovani and Bert Kaempfert isn't true.
It works, when you play Ray Conniff, James Last, Shadows and Ventures...
The most funny thing is, when I see the songs on the gig disks, mend for use in UK and US, 90% of the music works in Germany very well.