My concerts work best when the audience self-selected to be there and came only to listen. I discourage live music during meals, events or "happy hour". Bad activity directors think they get better value by forcing musicians on larger audiences assembled for something else. In practice, those interested in the music are annoyed at those talking. Those chatting are annoyed at being periodically drowned out. The talkers near me feel entitled to tell me to play more quietly. Then a staff member opens the piano lid because those in back can't hear the music. Amphitheaters, cathedrals and concert halls are acoustically engineered for music, lobbies and cafeterias generally aren't. And it's a pianoforte, not a harpsichord: dynamic range is the whole point. But like your facility (especially if it's a "non-profit"), I do this for money, so of course I'll play background music for your family visitation advertising showcase abomination. Alternatively, let those who care about music choose to attend when the conversationalists aren't there to annoy them.
Music
My classical stuff includes Chopin's first six Polonaises, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
Many places want Christmas stuff in December, so I've learned Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, A Fresh Aire Christmas, and Christmas in the Aire (album).
Pricing
I charge $125 for a one hour concert. I don't recommend having me play longer, there's a finite attention span for solo piano. But if you insist, $125/hour.
By 9th grade I was charging $75/hour ($125 in 2021, with 66% cumulative inflation). The minimum your facility should pay any competent musician (or me) is 20% of your average pretax weekly salary as activity director.
Scheduling
I prefer email, here's my contact form.
My calendar shows when I'm booked.
Tell me if I need to bring my keyboard (this is rare).
Facilities should have a permanent email address for use by musicians, for example activities@facility.com, rather than email associated with the name of the current activity director.Â
I've done 1000+ paid performances at St. Louis area eldercare centers since 1997, including these:
Aberdeen Heights Independent Living
Aberdeen Heights Health Center
Adam's Place
Adult Day Center at the J
Alexian Brothers Lansdowne
Alexian Brothers Sherbrooke
Anna House
The Arbors at South Pointe
Autumn Ridge
Autumnview Gardens Ellisville
Autumnview Gardens Schuetz
Barathaven Alzheimer's
Barnes-Jewish Extended Care
Beauvais Manor
Bellefountaine Gardens
Bent-wood
Bethesda Barclay
Bethesda Dilworth
Bethesda Gardens
Bethesda Oaks
Bethesda Old Orchard
Bethesda Southgate
Breeze Park
The Brentmoor
Brentmoor Place
Briarcrest Estates
Brookdale Creve Coeur
Brooking Park
Cape Albeon Harbor
Cape Albeon Village
Cambridge House of Maryville
Canterbury Manor
Cardinal Ritter Adult Daycare
Caregiver's Inn
Carrie Ellingson Gietner Home
Cathedral Gardens
Catherine's Residence
Cedarhurst of Shiloh
The Cedars at the JCA
Chesterfield Villas
Christian Care Home
Community Care Center of Lemay
Covenant House at the JCC
Crestview Senior Living
Creve Coeur Manor
Delmar Gardens Chesterfield
Delmar Gardens Creve Coeur
Delmar Gardens Meramec Valley
Delmar Gardens North
Delmar Gardens O'Fallon
Delmar Gardens on the Green
Delmar Gardens South
Delmar Gardens West
Desmet Retirement
Dutchtown Care and Rehab
Eldercare of the Valley
Fairwinds River's Edge
Fountains of West County
Friendship Village Sunset Hills Independent
Friendship Village Sunset Hills Nursing
Friendship Village Chesterfield Independent
Friendship Village Chesterfield Nursing
Foxes Grove Supportive Living
Gambrill Gardens
Garden Place of Columbia
Garden Villas North
Garden Villas O'Fallon
Garden Villas South
Garden Villas (West)
Gardenview Chesterfield
Gardenview O'Fallon
Gardenview Dougherty Ferry
The Gatesworth
Glenhaven Gardens of Alton
Grand Manor IL
Hidden Lake
Hidden Lake Health Center
Homestead at Hickory View
Laclede Groves
Lake St. Charles
Lakeview Park
Manor Care in Florissant
Manor Grove
Mari de Villa West/East
Mary Mount of Eureka
Mary, Queen and Mother Center
Meadowlands Assisted Living
Meridian Village
McKnight Place Assisted Living
McKnight Place Extended Care
Mother of Perpetual Help
NHC St. Charles
NHC Maryland Heights
NHC Town and Country
Oak Hill - Magnolia Terrace
Oak Park
Oak Tree Village
Our Lady of Life Apartments
Parklane Care and Rehab
Park Place
Park Place Assisted Living
Parkside Meadows Assisted Living
Parkside Towers
Pillars of North County
Nazareth Senior Living
Pope John Paul II Apartments
Provision Living St. Louis Hills
Richmond Terrace
The Riverview
Rosewood Care Center on Schuetz
Santa Maria Apartments
Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Retirement
South County Nursing Home
Southview Assisted Living
St. Agnes Home
St. John Neumann Apartments
St. John's Mercy Skilled Nursing
St. Patrick's Apartments
St. Paul's Home
St. Paul's Apartments
St. Peter's Manor
St. Sophia
St. William Apartments
Stonebridge Maryland Heights
Sunrise Assisted Living Chesterfield
Sunrise Assisted Living Des Peres
Sunrise Assisted Living on Clayton
Surrey Place
Sycamore Village
Tower Grove Manor
Veronica/Naomi House
Villa Theresea
Village North Retirement
Villages of St. Peters Assisted
The Villa at Riverwood
West County Care Center
Westchester House
Whispering Oaks
Wildwood Nursing and Rehab
Willow Creek
The Willows at Brooking Park