Where to get great entertainers for activity programs and the budget

Where do we get entertainers that actually enteract with the residence doing activity programs. Singers and entertainers. And what is the going budget for the pay scale to pay them. And also how many times a month is sufficient to have a singer or entertainer within the budget perameters.

My name is Susan and my husband and I are professional musicians. I have been an activities director for many years and most recently decided to go back to school for Psychology while stile being a popular entertainer in the tri-state area. Because of my vast experience with the elderly, I have come to realize what is appropriate with each group of residents whether it be for skilled care, AL, or independent living. Our program is 1 hour and VERY affordable. I play piano, bring a keyboard, and have some music with singing. It is a beautiful program. My husband plays clarinet. We give you the choice of how much you can afford (I appreciate monthly budgets) and then you let us know and that's what we accept. We love the residents and have a very dignified program that is not boring but very entertaining and appropriate. Please visit my web site too at
members.toast.net/mattnsue Our fee is between $85-$150 for one hour depending on what you can afford. YOu actually get 2 for the price of one because I charge that and more when I play solo in many places in my area. If you needs references I have plenty. If you want to try us, you won't be disappointed. We always get asked back! Thank you for considering us for an upcoming performance. Weekends work best for us.

Susan and Matt Dunn

My husband and I are also musicians and have played for many weddings, funerals, coffee houses, prison ministries, etc. We have a few friends who are professional musicians who have accompanied us over the years from time to time and most recently changed our style from James Taylor and folk (we write much of our own songs) to bluegrass when our bass player picked up the mandolin, banjo and dobro.
We have done mostly everything as volunteers and always have a great response wherever we have shared the music whether in large churches or area hospitals and nursing homes.
Most recently I used Craig's List and got two of the best musicians I've heard anywhere ever ...they played "real good" for free though I think we should have covered them with an "offering" ...hopefully we can get them back soon and make up for what we didn't pay. Some of my good friends who are musicians have offered to come by to play from their hearts simply because it's a worthy cause and they love what they do.

One last thought...you may want to advertise in a few of the local community papers, at Walmart, Senior Centers, grocery stores, etc...as well as on Craigs List for local musicians who'd like a place to practice. The schools also have wonderful bands, choirs, drama clubs and there are usually dance studios nearby. Elderly folks love children. We had whole classrooms of kids coming in to read their stories, poems or sing...a high school drama club performed CATS, a glorious bell choir came to perform ...there are great opportunities if you are creative enough to go out and look for them and willing to invest your own time freely to create a good program for the community you are working with. Much of a job like this has to do simply with whether or not you love what you do and the people you are serving. If you don't, you should let someone who does make the effort and try something else that pays better.

What are the going rates for hourly activities at Assisted Living Homes? Are the rates different for these cognitive?