playing in nursing homes…

[madeline-davis–2]

Hello, I am a high school harpist, who a little over a year ago asked about ways to get started professionally. Then I moved. I live in a smaller town now, not so far from the city I lived in before. The town has a large elderly community; it’s a sort of retirement destination. My mother thinks it would be good idea for me to start playing in the various retirement/nursing homes in the area, on a regular basis professionally, (similar to an arrangement with an hotel or restaurant, I guess?) However, how different should this be from single-event prices? The idea is for me to play one month (weekly/biweekly) for free as a volunteer, as a sort of trial, and then if they like the harp music, then settle on a regular routine. Any advice or suggestions about this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Madeline D.

[Sylvia]

Have you asked if they will actually pay, or is this just a plan?
If you can tell them what you charge and get it, good for you! Maybe it’s a wealthy community. Can’t be done here where I am.

Whether you get paid or not, it is a good idea to play. I played homes for several years (still play one occasionally) when I started out because I had terrible stage fright. Playing anywhere with bodies in the room worked really well. I got a lot of playing experience that way (and strong muscles) and became more comfortable. Playing in front of people is just not the same as playing at home.

I don’t know if you memorize, but all my regular rep is memorized, and the homes are a good place to try out new pieces. If they fall apart, no one will care, and you can learn to keep going when something happens. Recording while you play enables you to hear what it really sounded like.

Playing thru muzak, call signals, phones ringing, wheelchairs rolling past, and people talking helps you focus. Also, you get practice tuning because you are going into different temps and humidity. If you don’t have any sound equipment, you may find you need it.

Sorry if this is too long, but I am so grateful for the experience I gained in nursing and retirement homes. For me, that was worth more than money.

[jennifer-buehler]

Call around. Ask what they offer. In my town, retirement homes are the bread and butter of gigging musicians.

[madeline-davis–2]

Thank you very much for your responses! The benefits you mention all sound great, though I think I stand a chance of making something. But then I don’t really know how I should calculate the cost of something regular (as in how does it to relate to the price of a one-time job?) I didn’t realize that about Lincoln; though of course, I’ve only visited. Thanks again!
Madeline

[Tacye]

For a regular job I suggest a minimum price is all the time you are out of the house charged at the rate you would charge for teaching + transport costs, extra wear on the harp from moving, professional insurance… and that is the minimum!

I would do some investigation before you launch into your project. If other musicians are being paid to play you want to think very hard before offering to play for free. It undervalues your music, and may well annoy other musicians you are undercutting.

Another idea would be looking at the coffee shops etc around. Do any seem to be gathering places that would appreciate music for afternoon tea, or whatever?

[Sylvia]

Just for the record, when I played for free, I wasn’t undercutting anyone. I was quite awful starting out, and I wanted to make sure I improved BEFORE I charged anyone to play! Also, as I said, around here, the homes are really not a harp player’s market. I’m happy to hear that it’s different in other areas of the country.

[jimmy-h]

Sylvia, your down in the valley right? Are there still a lot of snow birds down there during the winter? I haven’t been down there in a long time.

[Sylvia]

Yes, they are here. Winter Texans! I think you’re around Dallas, aren’t you?

[jimmy-h]

Waco-ish. It’s close to my hometown (Ft. Hood) without having to live there. I have to drive 2 hours to Austin for lessons. It was that or Dallas, and any responses I got from teachers in that area was either none or ‘no adults’. Dallas is the same distance for me anyways, and I’m quite happy with my teacher if not the drive.

[jennifer-buehler]

Sylvia, the downside is that there really isn’t anywhere else that pays. And the other thing to keep in mind is what they are willing to pay. You can ask union rate or higher but if that’s not what they’re paying musicians, that’s not what you’re going to get. Coffee shops here are generally tips and merch sales only.

[Sylvia]

Jennifer, hypothetically (since I was talking about the ’80s when I was out there all the time), If I ask a nursing home to pay me to play, why should they? They didn’t ask for me, I asked for them. They’re just sitting there minding their own business and not looking for musicians to come there. The money has to come from what the residents pay to be there…out of the profits.

I don’t think there’s any union activity here. I think a lot depends on the area of the country where you are, and if you’re in a big city.

I wonder why you say there’s no place else that pays. I play weddings and dinners, and I assume everyone else does, too. That’s where the money is, but of course, you have to advertise in the wedding books so the right people find you, and that costs money. I also get referrals from people and places I’ve played for before.

[jennifer-buehler]

I meant as far as performing. Weddings are a whole different kind of work! I haven’t done the kind of work recently to get wedding. Can’t afford the spendy ads and the wedding shows here are really for corporate types. When my kids are out of high school or can drive independently :), I will probably do more weddings.

However, as far as doing a show or performing, the restaurants and hotels don’t hire. Coffee shops are tips only. There are a few concert series around town.

[Sylvia]

I don’t participate in wedding shows because they are horribly expensive.

One thing I do is make my own blurb with pic, info, and website address and email it to events centers and hotels that have events. (I don’t send it very often because then I’d be a pest.) Doesn’t cost anything. True, those places are also in the wedding books, but they probably don’t look at them.

[madeline-davis–2]

Thank you, Tayce, that was rather what I was looking for. I’ve been thinking of retirement/nursing homes because there aren’t many restaurants/hotels around here that I can even conceive wanting a harpist… though there sure are a good number of the former. I thought about the undercutting issue, but there aren’t too many musicians around here either, and I don’t know of any harpists. Thanks all for the advice!

[Sylvia]

I was trying to point out that when you are just starting out, there is a LOT to learn.

The undercutting thing came up on a different thread before. There was the view that someone with lack of experience should not charge what a professional would, etc….so the whole thing gets pretty sticky.

Personally, I don’t worry about what other people do. There will always be new people out there…and I remember distinctly when I was new, even tho it was more than 30 yrs ago. I literally had no idea what I was doing…repertoire, dress, sound equipment, etc. I quickly learned that when people pay for music, they want to hear it. Some things are much easier now because information is on the Internet.

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