@Danny C

We have been playing these types of gigs for around 5 years. It sounds like the situation where you are and where we are vary quite a bit. The places here have what they refer to as "activity" budgets. Activities may be for game staffing, arts and crafts, singalongs, and live entertainment. We are amateur musicians and would never think of charging for our music. As to expenses, we have very few and don't mind them. Our biggest expense is for song word packets which we pass out at the beginning of the gigs so that the audience can sing along if they choose to. Some dementia patients refuse to give the packets back so we are always having to go to Office Depot and print more. We do get many thankyous and smiles for which we are grateful. Some musicians who gig at these places are paid. How much? I don't know. Most are not paid. We are retired and are not playing in hopes of being paid. We consider what we do a form of ministry. We understand why not everyone thinks the way we do. Hope this helps in clarifying our perspective. YMMV.

Stan

Cornet Curmudgeon