Originally Posted By: Don Gaynor
Somehow, I feel like the oddball in this conversation.

I live in 1 of 18 Nursing Homes owned by the same for-profit corporation. I see nearly nothing being allocated to patient entertainment so I'm attempting an end-run around the corporation out of my love and concern for the patients who have absolutely nothing to say in budgetary matters yet deserve some quality entertainment.

I have no intention to dilute the value of any band or solo entertainer by asking friends to play here for free but, unfortunately, it comes down to free versus none.

I think entertainment money is available but is currently being diverted to beautification, plants, and outdoor detailing. They are currently doing a multimillion dollar remodeling which will provide them an excuse to cry "poverty".

So I'm left with a dilemma; To ask my countless musician friends worldwide to entertain pro bono, or, conversely, to watch the elderly patients with Alzheimer's, Dementia, Chronic Pain, Hospice (end of life) Patients, withdraw further into mental darkness without the stimulation provided by music, the only activity that utilizes 100% of the brain. I choose the former.

Perhaps a deciding factor - there is still room here for your mother!


Don,

1st of all you are "in no way" are diluting the pay or worth of anyone, much less musicians. This conversation was started because of so many restaurants, bars and coffee shops using working musicians to ring their registers with no pay to the musician, just promises.

Regarding Budgets: Not sure about yours but nearly all nursing homes do have an entertainment budget. However it is up to the entertainment director and management to choose how it is spent, and the good ones spend it on what their clients like. I have seen that entertainment budgets are spent on everything from live entertainment to field trips and even shopping trips to Walmart.

For instance in my area it varies market to market, i.e. the live entertainments for nursing homes and retirement facilities budgets for the New Orleans and Gulf Coast area budget for live entertainment runs 75.00 - 125.00. With the nursing homes being on the lower side of that scale, simply because they have smaller budgets than the mega retirement facilities who get pretty big bucks for their apartments, with some even having a required buyin before you can move in. The shows being booked, I might add includes shows from musicians, puppeteers and comedians.

While further up the road a few miles the budgets seem to be set a little lower, but likewise the acts in this market tend to charge less for their product than the rest of the state. Point is many musicians limit their paydays because of many reasons only know to them, I can just speculate.

With this said I do know we will be rocking your joint on June 27th! and I would "gladly pay out of my pocket" for the "privileged" of doing so . . . might even sing an Irish tune or two. But you may have to buy me a drink for that . . . lol

Take care partner,

Danny C.
www.dannycampo.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Danny-Campo/379776252109306?skip_nax_wizard=true

The More You Drink The Better I Sound