My wife is the activities director at a nursing home and hurries to
assure anyone interested that everyone should take a harp to a nursing
home. They will *love* it! Activities departments are always looking for
something different; heck, something available. And, most of them have
money to pay the entertainers. Ask if they have a budget after you're
booked in--you may be surprised. And even if they don't, you'll get an
appreciative audience who, too often, feels like the world is going on
without them. Most of her entertainers simply say something like, "my
fee is 25, 50, 85 dollars" and leave it at that. A pedal harpist played
over in the retirement part of the home and got $100.
If my wife is interested (always) she pays their fee like she would any
other contractor. If she is forced to say that her monthly budget is
gone, sometimes they'll play for free. Then, when they want to come
back, she remembers them as well as the resident's reaction and knows
how they'll go over. In fact, there are people in the Wilmington area
who make up a large part of their living playing the Nursing Home
Circuit (there must be dozens in a 20-mile radius...).
The big question: Have I played for my wife's nursing home? Sadly, no,
because of schedule conflicts. But I intend to sometime soon...
Regards,
Mark Feil
Markntam@dol.net