Are Giggers' bookings picking up yet?

[RoyceM]

How are you giggers doing with your bookings?

Over the past several months, my bookings have increased significantly (I play retirement and care facilities). I'm now getting 12-14 monthly bookings and expect more and more facilities to open up. Along with bookings come cancellations due to covid issues, sometimes 40% - 50% cancellations. I call to check for status changes before going.

Play-on everybody!!

- Royce

[travlin-easy]

A few performers that do the senior circuit in my part of the world, Maryland, say they are back to about 50 percent of where they were before Covid-19.

Good luck,

Gary

[Bruce Breen]

I usually do the service clubs (Legions, Air Force, Army & Navy) and none of them are having any entertainment yet - some are still closed.
That's what it's like in Southern Ontario, Canada right now...

(I'm retired and have a good pension so I'm not even out pursuing anything else either.
But I am looking forward to when I can do a few gigs again!)

Update, Aug 8th, 2022:  Had two gigs in July - first ones since March 2020.
Very good turn-outs for both
They want me back in the fall - if we aren't shut down again (which doesn't look like it will happen here).

[mikf]

I was in a favorite nightclub/restaurant in Texas for the first time since Covid. They always have top quality entertainers and they had the band back -BUT - the place was way quieter than normal for a Friday evening.  So it seems that the big issue is that the public, especially older people, are not yet fully comfortable in these settings and providing entertainment may not yet be cost effective for many venues.
Mike

[DrakeM]

I was playing every week at my local Senior Center before the lock down. I started back playing just twice a month last October. I don't intend to go back playing weekly (I'm retired) and that was too much prep work. But there are more people attending my gigs than ever before. I play the center for free and always have and if I have something else going on I just let them know I will be a no show.

As far as the other venues I was playing before the lock down, I have not even contacted them. I was playing for very low pay or free at them and if I get bored I may reach out to them (I doubt it though). I wasn't needing the income, just enjoying entertaining. My wife retires in a couple months  and I don't want to be committed to be playing.   

[RoyceM]

I was playing every week at my local Senior Center before the lock down. I started back playing just twice a month last October. I don't intend to go back playing weekly (I'm retired) and that was too much prep work. 

Prep work sure can eat up a lot of private time. Years ago I began playing all month long from a preset playlist (large enough to give me flexibility), then change lists.

- Royce

[Lofty(dave)]

Saddly in my area of carmarthen shire pencader have tried to get a pensioners club going with added music have tried for 5 months on a monday has been really disapointingthe most people ive had comming was3 people here just dont seem interested lofty dave

[mikf]

People, particularly older people, just got out of the way of doing these regular things during Covid, and they might also still be a little anxious about mixing in groups.
Also, this older group who were probably regular, got 3 years older during covid, so some may have dropped out anyway over time.
I think the only way is to persist, building the habit again, losing the anxiety and maybe attracting new people. Trouble is that is not very cost effective for you.
Mike