The perfect gig!

[CC_PDX]

After becoming "redundant" in the corporate world earlier this year, I actually have the time to perform in public 4-5 times a week in various capacities. However, I had no outlet for some of the European folk music I really like to play so I approached a local Parisian marketplace/restaurant /bar about playing some French, Belgian and Scandinavian tunes during their dinner / happy hours. They were very enthused and gave me carte blanche to come in anytime I want and they will give me free food / drinks and can play for tips.

It is 5 minutes from my house, making it essentially climate-controlled busking in a gorgeous space where:

1) I get paid to essentially practice (what I would be doing anyway) at a place that isn't home.
2) I can polish up 2-3 hours of previously memorized (but otherwise unused) niche repertoire in front of an appreciative live audience
3) There is no PA / gear to haul or set up
4) I don't have to create setlists, schedule practices, do promotion, coordinate bandmates, announce tunes, call out chord charts or do any kind of stage banter. I can just show up, sit down and zone out in my own happy place playing tunes that come into my head (or make up new ones).
5) Great French wine or local beer
6) At the end of the evening, I take home doggie bags of pricey French cuisine that provides multiple lunches and dinners for me and my wife.



I don't think I could have envisioned a more perfect situation.

 

[CC_PDX]

Bonus: since there is a near-zero chance that anyone knows the tunes, I can be quite loose in my interpretations and how closely I adhere to the original

 

[Tom]

Wow, what a great setup, congrats!

 

[jozz]

you lucky *******
congratulations

 

[debra]

Sounds like you got a good deal and are enjoying your new "job".

 

[Pipemajor]

After becoming "redundant" in the corporate world earlier this year, I actually have the time to perform in public 4-5 times a week in various capacities. However, I had no outlet for some of the European folk music I really like to play so I approached a local Parisian marketplace/restaurant /bar about playing some French, Belgian and Scandinavian tunes during their dinner / happy hours. They were very enthused and gave me carte blanche to come in anytime I want and they will give me free food / drinks and can play for tips.

It is 5 minutes from my house, making it essentially climate-controlled busking in a gorgeous space where:

1) I get paid to essentially practice (what I would be doing anyway) at a place that isn't home.
2) I can polish up 2-3 hours of previously memorized (but otherwise unused) niche repertoire in front of an appreciative live audience
3) There is no PA / gear to haul or set up
4) I don't have to create setlists, schedule practices, do promotion, coordinate bandmates, announce tunes, call out chord charts or do any kind of stage banter. I can just show up, sit down and zone out in my own happy place playing tunes that come into my head (or make up new ones).
5) Great French wine or local beer
6) At the end of the evening, I take home doggie bags of pricey French cuisine that provides multiple lunches and dinners for me and my wife.



I don't think I could have envisioned a more perfect situation.

So there is such a place as accordion heaven

 

[losthobos]

My kinda gig.....I am aural wallpaper...
No one wants to sit in a magnolia plain walled room so paintings are added even though no one really looks at them .....
No one wants to sit in a silent room so soft ambient music is added even though no one really listens....
Take away either and the punters stop coming....
I'm always happy sat in a corner noodling my way through tunes...a little polite gratitude is always welcome....and a few drinks ...
UK is not normally a 'tip' culture so I generally pick up a a fifty quid retainer for these type of gigs ..but if I notice not much money passing over the bar I'll drop some of the fee on the day...
Enjoy

 

[JerryPH]

Congrats on the perfect gig for you!

After becoming "redundant" in the corporate world earlier this year...

I really look forward to retiring in a couple years, having all that "accordion time" freed up makes me smile just thinking about it!

 

[JeffJetton]

Sounds wonderful! I'm big a fan of background music gigs, where you can just do your thing, and there's no spotlight on you or anything.

Once I wound up on a duo gig with a singer (I was on piano). I think it was for the local Rotary Club--we were to play after they had concluded the club business. We were prepared for it to be, like, dinner music, or background cocktail music, etc.

Nope. When the club meeting ended, it turned out we were the "show". Everyone just sitting there in their seats, looking at us, waiting to be entertained.

Awkward!

 

[CC_PDX]

My kinda gig.....I am aural wallpaper...
No one wants to sit in a magnolia plain walled room so paintings are added even though no one really looks at them .....
No one wants to sit in a silent room so soft ambient music is added even though no one really listens....
Take away either and the punters stop coming....
I'm always happy sat in a corner noodling my way through tunes...a little polite gratitude is always welcome....and a few drinks ...
UK is not normally a 'tip' culture so I generally pick up a a fifty quid retainer for these type of gigs ..but if I notice not much money passing over the bar I'll drop some of the fee on the day...
Enjoy

Yeah background is my preference as well. The expectations and scrutiny are different when you are the focus and I tend to play more cautiously, taking fewer chances under those conditions and follow a setlist. I worked out an agreement that if it becomes a “featured” performer situation we could revisit the pay arrangement, but this gave us both a no risk way to try it out. So far so good.

 

[JKJ]

For a gig that pays in appreciation try one of the assisted living places all over the country. I’ve done piano at one and the music always coaxed out people shut away in their rooms. The people were so appreciative, forgiving of mistakes, and full of stories (“reminds me of when my father/wife/uncle… “). I took my prolifically piano virtuoso nephew when he was in town. People I knew would bring a singing group every week or so.

Might be a great place to “practice” the accordion!

Some of the people have no family, friends all gone, lonely. Even bringing a llama for a visit was a big hit. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the elderly and the infirm are still people.

JKJ

 

[jozz]

and there's no spotlight on you or anything.

accordion should be center stage

my 15 minutes of fame

 

[Tom]

For a gig that pays in appreciation try one of the assisted living places all over the country. I’ve done piano at one and the music always coaxed out people shut away in their rooms. The people were so appreciative, forgiving of mistakes, and full of stories (“reminds me of when my father/wife/uncle… “). I took my prolifically piano virtuoso nephew when he was in town. People I knew would bring a singing group every week or so.

Might be a great place to “practice” the accordion!

Some of the people have no family, friends all gone, lonely. Even bringing a llama for a visit was a big hit. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the elderly and the infirm are still people.

JKJ

For sure! When I was working I played tons of senior meal sites, nursing homes, Alzheimer’s groups, etc. I got into it because my office was next to the aging department. It was extremely rewarding and a good place to practice new stuff. You’re right, the seniors love it, especially in a polka state where the accordion is really known. Even I could sing!. I quit because of moving, and covid, and haven’t gotten back into it at my new place, and am so focused now on the farmers markets. Maybe I’ll do some more some day. I totally recommend it, especially for new players. People will love and appreciate you.

 

[Ventura]

while we are on the subject, i would like to also recommend to the
accordionists who know how and are capable of "strolling" that attached
to many of these types of places are Alzheimer's wings, or rehab areas,
where the residents seldom leave their rooms. It is an immense
kindness if you can take an hour in these care centers before or after your
"main" scheduled performance in the common area/party room

similar to bistro strolling, you can "lean" in at the doorways to the rooms
and be able to tell if they would love you to come closer for a song, or
if they are close to the end, simply and gently play La Paloma as
they drift away

you have a unique skill and ability to ease the burdens of the staff
and residents of such areas.. once you experience the powerful effect
this has on people and their families, you will also gain a new insight
into the last days.. this is literally a rare and priceless experience..

 

[Tom]

while we are on the subject, i would like to also recommend to the
accordionists who know how and are capable of "strolling" that attached
to many of these types of places are Alzheimer's wings, or rehab areas,
where the residents seldom leave their rooms. It is an immense
kindness if you can take an hour in these care centers before or after your
"main" scheduled performance in the common area/party room

similar to bistro strolling, you can "lean" in at the doorways to the rooms
and be able to tell if they would love you to come closer for a song, or
if they are close to the end, simply and gently play La Paloma as
they drift away

you have a unique skill and ability to ease the burdens of the staff
and residents of such areas.. once you experience the powerful effect
this has on people and their families, you will also gain a new insight
into the last days.. this is literally a rare and priceless experience..

Absolutely!!! And, as I’ve posted before, you may run across the principal violist for the Cincinnati Symphony, now so happy to be asked to play music at the Alzheimer’s meeting. I wonder where that little Scandalli ended up. I restored and sold it but to….hmmmm, I think I remember. It was a nice one! I still have that guitar, it’s a nice one too, made in Canada.

 

[stickista]

After becoming "redundant" in the corporate world earlier this year, I actually have the time to perform in public 4-5 times a week in various capacities. However, I had no outlet for some of the European folk music I really like to play so I approached a local Parisian marketplace/restaurant /bar about playing some French, Belgian and Scandinavian tunes during their dinner / happy hours. They were very enthused and gave me carte blanche to come in anytime I want and they will give me free food / drinks and can play for tips.

It is 5 minutes from my house, making it essentially climate-controlled busking in a gorgeous space where:

1) I get paid to essentially practice (what I would be doing anyway) at a place that isn't home.
2) I can polish up 2-3 hours of previously memorized (but otherwise unused) niche repertoire in front of an appreciative live audience
3) There is no PA / gear to haul or set up
4) I don't have to create setlists, schedule practices, do promotion, coordinate bandmates, announce tunes, call out chord charts or do any kind of stage banter. I can just show up, sit down and zone out in my own happy place playing tunes that come into my head (or make up new ones).
5) Great French wine or local beer
6) At the end of the evening, I take home doggie bags of pricey French cuisine that provides multiple lunches and dinners for me and my wife.



I don't think I could have envisioned a more perfect situation.

Hope the tips are respectable!

 

[stickista]

while we are on the subject, i would like to also recommend to the
accordionists who know how and are capable of "strolling" that attached
to many of these types of places are Alzheimer's wings, or rehab areas,
where the residents seldom leave their rooms. It is an immense
kindness if you can take an hour in these care centers before or after your
"main" scheduled performance in the common area/party room

similar to bistro strolling, you can "lean" in at the doorways to the rooms
and be able to tell if they would love you to come closer for a song, or
if they are close to the end, simply and gently play La Paloma as
they drift away

you have a unique skill and ability to ease the burdens of the staff
and residents of such areas.. once you experience the powerful effect
this has on people and their families, you will also gain a new insight
into the last days.. this is literally a rare and priceless experience..

, but my nightmare is “Libertango” (the new “Lady of Spain”) being played to me as I die.

 

[Javthedog]

Slightly conflicted on this one.......great gig and I hope it stays ++enjoyable. Knew a guy who did the same thing with a local restaurant for a % of the increase in turnover - that worked well too. I'm also all to aware that "clients/venues/parties" sometimes tend to think that they can "offer" playing - without pay - saying things like it's good exposure/good experience etc. I wonder what your plumber would say if you told him he could fit the boiler for free as it's good experience etc.

 

[Giovanni]

while we are on the subject, i would like to also recommend to the
accordionists who know how and are capable of "strolling" that attached
to many of these types of places are Alzheimer's wings, or rehab areas,
where the residents seldom leave their rooms. It is an immense
kindness if you can take an hour in these care centers before or after your
"main" scheduled performance in the common area/party room

similar to bistro strolling, you can "lean" in at the doorways to the rooms
and be able to tell if they would love you to come closer for a song, or
if they are close to the end, simply and gently play La Paloma as
they drift away

you have a unique skill and ability to ease the burdens of the staff
and residents of such areas.. once you experience the powerful effect
this has on people and their families, you will also gain a new insight
into the last days.. this is literally a rare and priceless experience..

This has also been my experience.....

 

[CC_PDX]

Slightly conflicted on this one.......great gig and I hope it stays ++enjoyable. Knew a guy who did the same thing with a local restaurant for a % of the increase in turnover - that worked well too. I'm also all to aware that "clients/venues/parties" sometimes tend to think that they can "offer" playing - without pay - saying things like it's good exposure/good experience etc. I wonder what your plumber would say if you told him he could fit the boiler for free as it's good experience etc.

I hear you. I’m all for fair pay for artists. This is a bit of wanting to support the restaurants and pubs that have struggled through pandemic to help bring the patrons back and ensure their viability for the future, which benefits me and the community in numerous ways beyond money. So many have closed this past year.