The eldery are not vehicles, they are human beings and should be treated as such; as opposed to calling them old. Perhaps you can't differentiate between the two yet.

If they were having a sale on Viagra, I could use that! Well, it's been so long I forgot what to do so to heck with it. Hope your Thanksgiving was good and the holiday season (whichever one you celebrate) is even better!!

Paddy

Kristen, looks like I lowered the level on this subject but lets get back on the right train of posts and talk about our senior shows. They are a lot more fun than kids shows I think.

Thanks for the spirit of your reply, Adam. Five mornings a week I drive seniors to various places.
Quickly one interacts with the big "p" person and understands how frustrated they are that their"body has let them down".
I am shuddering to congratulate my buddy in California, but vent/magician Tony Borders brings much kindness and skill to his instructions. He is also three pickles short of a full jar!
Tony WORKS at his craft which to him is also a vocation and his income. This ex-teacher is unbeatable in the basics. Gosh, enough of this soppy stuff!
The penny dropped for me when Tony suggested I twin a show in this area's many retirement homes to a day when four, five,six of seven year olds were there on a class visit. Bam! The kids are laughing and the seniors are delighted at the little people having fun. I caution, however, I think it would be folly to do a show combining seniors and tots without solid experience with both age groups. I respect the enthusiasm of our young magicians. ron0

I missed this earlier but I'll chime in now. I am 63 years OLD. I am not "elderly" it took me a long time to get old and that's what we are. We are OLD and that term does carry respect, "elderly'" on the other hand doesn't have the connotation of respect. Elderly, too often, means "decrepit, useless, lived past his time."

The term elderly seems to have different meanings to many different people, as with many other terms. However the dictionary states:

1. somewhat old; near old age: a resort for elderly people.
2. of or pertaining to persons in later life.

I don't see how those particular definitions are insulting. But again I suppose it is a matter of perception, and where "you" are currently in life.

Look back at this post. Read what is going on and ask yourself, "was it really worth going to a dictionary and typing up a definition to a word that some people are making a joke about?" If paddy can make a joke about his age, no offence paddy, then it shouldn't be a big deal. YOU ARE FIGHTING OVER THE TERM TO CALL OLD PEOPLE.

The only reason I was throwing this out is because we all have to "be so sensitive and politically correct" with our terms. So I just tossed out a comment. I don't really give a crap about what I am called just doing a little hel lraising.

I understand what you are saying and I knew that was what you were doing. I don't understand why sirbad went off the deep end like that.

Did I? Or am I actually joking and being sarcastic? That is for you to determine.

Hecky-do, call them old folks, elderly--- or Antiques (my personal favorite-- antiques are considered valuable) just be respectful and put on a good show for them! Treat them well because they laid down the path for us younger generation (okay, not too much younger) to follow. Most importantly, let them know they aren't forgotten.

Have a great day everyone!

~ A Future Antique

To bring us back to seriousness. The Nursing homes, retirement centers, senior centers shows generally don't pay very much. In fact some of the centers I go to regularly have an entertainment budget of $100 a month. That includes cake and treats for birthday parties, outside entertainers, everything. So our shows have to be priced lower than the average show. Also remember that a lot of the seniors have the same attention span as a kid, so keep the shows to 30 minutes.

I did a mailing out to all the senior service places in my area offering my half hour show for $50. I won't do this again for a while. In less than 4 days I had over 30 shows booked, all withing a 2 week period. I was doing 2 to 3 shows a day. I still get calls and that was done a year ago.

Remember as Kristen said, all the rules apply!! You must have a GOOD show! These nursing home / senior service people talk to one another and if your good, you don't have to mail out again because of the word of mouth business you get. If you don't have a good show, you're done.

Solid, Paddy.

I appreciate that some people comprehend that small outfits don't have big budgets ,yet it's evident you understand it's important to provide big time happiness.What goes.... etcetera.
.
Ron0

I am actually able to command a higher rate because I have done repeat performances so long, and am the ONLY magician in my area for about 60 miles. Ironically they actually call back a lot of very bad so-called entertainers as I discussed in my essay, because in this dead area they are desperate for entertainment. They even paid bad entertainers a lot more than me before they hired me the first time. The staff stated it was a welcomed relief.

I am not sure about other areas, but I made a decent living off these venues solely for awhile, although they are not as fun to do as others.