Join us for a special livestream tomorrow evening with featured guest Aaron Turner! Aaron has just started doing gigs at senior communities. This livestream I wanted to get his voice on how to begin scheduling shows, challenges he is facing, and perhaps answer a few of your questions on building a senior gig career. Looking forward to seeing you there! Also, if you have had trouble using your microphone or camera on Skool calls in the past, I found this video that can be helpful in troubleshooting this problem. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/FrQmtZ0knOs

So first gig done yesterday and it went really well I followed all the advice, arrived early, started on time, introduced myself while playing the bars to the first song , took time to listen and smiled a lot. the set up took around 5 minutes and I also recorded myself if I was being critical I was a bit flat for the first few songs and started a song in the wrong key, but when I made a mistake, a missed chord change or lyric I just kept going nobody seemed to notice I did get two requests but didn't know them and one thing I will change is to try and add some songs with finger picking instead of all strumming but on the whole pretty good lots of smiles and interaction and tomorrow I get to do it all again.

Here’s a postcard I put together and have handed out a few in person with great results, 2 gigs ($150 @) and one 20-minute demo! I’m going to tweak it next printing by replacing “facility” with “community.” I wasn’t sure about the free demo part, but for now I have the time to do it.

Since I am just starting out with performing for senior communities I have been asking for $100 to perform so I can get my performances perfected and get established as an entertainer in our area. I just texted the activities director for a place I played last week, and before I even said my price she said, "By any chance would you be able to do a happy hour performance for $125? We work with a small budget and I pay most happy hour entertainers $100. Would it be possible for you to do a show for that price?" I guess I must have done okay performing for them. 🤓 (That really made my day!) Thanks Chris! Your guidance really helped me a lot to get to this point!

This morning's gig was a little challenging. It's a nursing home/rehab center with quite a few people with all different situations (some of them don't seem like they are even aware of me). There is one resident who is especially vocal- she enjoyed singing happily most of the show & then about 3/4 through she started yelling and it looked like she was getting really angry or frustrated. A few other residents were occasionally talking loudly, some of the staff were chatting with each other, and then the large wheeled trays containing lunch for everyone started rolling in - a very busy morning. I kept it cool and kept on singing as if I had a totally engaged audience. I have definitely encountered this before but it can be SO DISTRACTING. Best advice is to try your best to tune everything out & just keep on making the music. I always get them back at the end with Sweet Caroline (I live in the Boston area, LOL) & God Bless America. I often get reflective when I am driving home thinking what their day-to-day situation must be and I am hoping I have brought them some "peace & love" through my music even for just a short time. Don't sweat the small stuff - anything you are bringing is giving someone joy.