The Steel Guitar Forum

On one our recent monthly trips, a lady was in a chair that was almost a bed. She appeared to be asleep except when we played, she would move her feet. It did me more good than it did her.

I'm waiting until I'm in one.

richard simmons has "sweating to the oldies....
we got "picking for the oldies"...

I play with a group of retired folks (all except me) and we play at the old folks nutrition center on thursday nite....it is fun....as you say....more for us than the inmates.......but, some of them enjoy us being there and do "move their feet" some...
it really does give us a good feeling of accomplishment to at least entertain for a short time.
ch

My wife & I and her girl friend play at many of the nursing homes, almost every friday, I load up the van with a pa, steel, speakers & stands & we play for about 1 1/2 to 2 hr gig for them, they love it. we play a lot of gospel, some old tunes & some old r & r, its really a blast to see how these 'forgotten' folks still enjoy music. Oh, we never charge anything for doing it, its all volunteer and is probably the most important thing I have ever done, besides playing in church. But, hey I do an occasional regular gig once in a while.
If you just have a steel, & some tracks, go out & play at one of the nursing homes, you will feel like a 'King' when your finished playing & its kind of a way to 'give back' to the One who gave you all that talent!!

Ernie Pollock

I haven't done that in quite a while. Several years ago when I still lived in Georgia, we would occasionally, go to local nursing homes and play for the old folks. No, we didn't get paid money wise. But it is something I will always remember..they enjoyed it so much.

We played mostly gospel with some bluegrass and old country. At the time, we were a bluegrass group.

It is so sad to see folks in those places. It makes you appreciate what you have and the youth and health you still have.

Dennis

I play the 2nd Sunday of every month at a 55 & Over manufactured home park with a beautiful log community lodge. We do this for free, and it is met with great response. The acoustics are fantastic.

Over the years we have done quite a few nursing home and V.A. hosp. freebies , gives you a good feeling in your heart !! Also we played at a local state prison a few times !! Kind of scary going inside thru locked gates but the inmates really enjoyed the music and the guards thanked us for helping them. Eddie "C" ( the old non-pedal geezer )

I have been playing for nursing homes and Alzhemier units for over 11 years now. I just turned 74 and am going to cut back a little. My age keeps telling me to slow down a bit. I normally do every Wed, Thur., and Fri. of every week.
It has been one my most rewarding times in life when it comes to playing. I quit the bar scene many, many years ago. Never looked back!
I have posted before on this subject and tried to encourage others to do the same. It is a donation of time and talent thing, but it is well worth the effort. You are appreciated far more then you really realize. My two cents worth!

I played at a large nursing home complex three times over this past Winter.
I really get a blessing out of it.
I have worked up a bit of a "schtick" where I tell a few jokes, play a song, tell a few jokes, play a song, etc. All I play is good old gospel music.
Besides liking the music, they enjoy a good laugh also.
If we're lucky, we'll get old also.

Enjoy doing the nurcing homes. We also do 95% gospel music. One time we brought the fiddle and did a couple cajon things and one old guy in a wheelchair stood up and claped. The nurce said that it was the first time in 3 years he's stood up by him self. And besure to take some time to visit with them. That seems to be more important to them then the music.

No nursing homes, but have played senior citizen apartment complexes (unassisted living) with both country and klezmer bands. The stories and photos they share are amazing.

That is most decent of you guys. Once in a while I set in with a group of elderly muscians that play churches and such. They range in ages from 70's to 80 years old. they call themselves, The Elderly Brothers. They are a hoot for sure and I get to really play some "old" stuff.
isn't it a great feeling to give back and be appreciated? My hat's off to you guys.

Wally

I'm not a professional musician but I love to try to play steel and dobro. My mother passed away nine years ago with alzimers in a nursing home. I get emotional when I see and hear of people in nursing homes...I'll play my guitars for those people anytime day or night because my love for music was given to me and I get great joy out of sharing it with others. Here is a clip of a senior citizens party that I was invited to play at back in Feb. this year...I am the dobro player. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI3w4wsb ... re=related

I've never asked for, nor been given as much as a dime for playing at the local nursing home, yet, they are without doubt the most rewarding gigs I've ever played.

I would like to add a comment about playing for nursing homes, etc.
It seems like many that I have talked to outside the Forum seem to think that you must play a lot of gospel numbers. That may be a deterrent for some who might play otherwise.
I have 9 one hour programs that I use as a guide to avoid repetition. I usually play and sing one inspirational number in the one hour program, all the rest of the numbers are what they want and that is country, many old standards and Hawaiian. I have found that over the years that there are some who want you to play their very favorite number every time you play for them, so that eats up a lot of any preplanned program.
Thanks for listening and be assured there is not a better audience to play for, they are not critical of any mistakes that you might make. They appreciate anything that you do for them, far more then you can imagine.
I encourage everyone to give it a try and it also makes an excellent practice session.

I played last week at one of those assisted living places with a group that does '40's swing music. As I was carrying my steel in, one old gentleman said "Oh, good, a steel guitar! my son plays pedal steel in a western swing band", and another guy came up to me after we finished, and said, "Is that a pedal steel guitar? Sure sounds nice."

I seldom get that much attention from other audiences. It was actually a pretty cool gig. No drunks or smoke, low volume, appreciative crowd... I'd do it again anytime.

I was in a band a few years ago and we played a nursing home weekly for a few months. We were guitar, bass, harmonica and percussion. The music we played was along the lines of Jimmy Buffet. And the pay.... they fed us dinner and everyone was happy.

I'm so happy to see that many of you have a big heart instead of just looking for a big paycheck. That's what it's all about.

We take the steel and amp, a keyboard played by a gal who sings, and a bass. As mentioned by someone else, they are so appreciative and a few come up to ask questions about the guitar, etc. Some folks who live in assisted living settings kick up their heels to songs like "Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy", "My Home in San Antone", or "The Glendale Train". They like the old songs, and that suits us to a "T". Patsy Cline songs are usually requested, and we throw in "Steel Guitar Rag" and "The Auctioneer"; also a fair amount of gospel, which gets some of them singing along. Some of the people who can't move around much make up for it with their smiles. It is heartwarming to be able to entertain these folks by doing what we love.

Myrna B

When I was living in Georgia, I would join my uncle and play for the folks at our hometown nursing home. He used to do the Bible study on the fifth Wednesday of the month, and he always encouraged me to come along and play my steel while he sang old-time gospel and bluegrass songs. Here is a picture of us doing a tune.

Here is a picture taken outside a nursing home that had a picnic for the residents and I was asked to play.

The last nursing home I played, with Danny Michaels (sadly now departed) was in Palm Springs, Ca. Danny had open heart surgery only six days prior but he played the gig. The home had a large lobby where we set up to play. Well the theme was country music in a barn yard. They strung chicken wire in a big cirle, filled it with a layer of straw, and then brought in live chickens and a goat to complete the barn yard scene. I don't know how the patients enjoyed the music but the Chickens seemed to appreciate the band. You never know what your going to get into when playing casuals.

Billy,
Did you play for "chicken feed"?

I think nursing homes is a favorite all over the world. It must be something about the show of appreciation in their faces. Also, I am sure that the ex-engineers among the residents will really appreciate it if you take some time to turn your steel upside down and show it off to them.
My good friend and steel playing buddy in Norway, Nils Farstad, a senior himself, plays a bit in nursing homes. The look of appreciation on their faces is priceless and I am sure, payment in full for Nils.

More of us should do this for our seniors and community.

By the way, you can hear Nils's playing on Charles Tilley's web site where he plays 'Keep it Country'

Erv:.
No, we did not play for "chicken feed" but the Chickens kept asking for the "Chicken Dance".
That's all, let's not beat this thing to death!