SENIORS’ FACILITIES/COMMUNITIES
We have a sliding scale of rates according to available budgets. It costs us on average $165 per musician, so we provide a mix of solos to quartets to mitigate costs over time. Since we are in growth mode, we negotiate reasonably, because we really want your residents to have access to this beautiful music.
Your contract is with Concerts in Care Ontario. Please pay us, according to your invoice and our agreement.
CiC Ontario pays the musicians who have performed on our twice-per-month payroll, whether or not you have paid us before that date.
This is supposed to be EASIER for you! All you need to do is direct the musicians to your performance space, and ENJOY!
Our Executive Director, Debra Chandler, will have a conversation with you to reach an agreement on how we can make concerts happen at your facility.
Ideally, we perform one per month. Many facilities choose 8-10 concerts per year. Our absolute minimum is 4 concerts in a 12-month period.
All you need is a space where your residents can gather, and room for a small ensemble to set up in front or in the middle of them.
If you have a piano or keyboard, it gives us the flexibility to program those instruments. If not, we can send many other ensembles and soloists who do not require one.
We are your turnkey operation – We hire, schedule and prepare our musicians, so you don’t have to worry.
If you have a virus outbreak, and elevator breakdown, or anything else that causes a disruption that prevents you from having the concert on the scheduled day, you make one phone call and we take care of postponing, and rescheduling.
- We create and send you electronic posters that you can print and post around your facility.
- We send photos and bios of the artists.
- We prepare the artists, and ensure that they not only have a suitable program, but also a narrative of stories that relate the music to your audience, to the composers, and to themselves.
- AND, we ask the artists to stay after the concert to speak to the residents who may want to meet them, or to as questions.
Our main focus is classical music, but our jazz roster is growing! We also have a few ensembles that can do America Songbook, Musicals, Dixieland, and other popular repertoire.
Certainly, but we cannot guarantee that they will be available for your concert.
Yes, of course. But we will likely wait a few concerts before we send them back. Variety is the spice of life, and we have excellent musicians of many kinds to offer you.
MUSICIANS
All artists must submit a resume and 2-3 video or audio clips with good sound, for Artistic Advisor, Andrew Burashko to review.
Once Andrew gives the green light, we look for opportunities to include you in the roster. Our booking cycle is 2-3 months ahead of concerts.
Please direct your submissions to debra@concertsincareontario.com.
The basic concert is 45 minutes, including narrative – which is imperative.
We have 3-4 facilities which have locked floors for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. In those places, we sometimes have the musicians perform the 45 minutes in the main space, take a 15-20 minute break, and then play 30 minutes on a locked floor. The total call is still under 2 hours, so the same fee applies.
Audience size ranges from 10 to about 70, with the average number being 40-50.
We strongly recommend that no single piece be longer than 8 – 10 minutes.
We encourage solos from each musician in the ensemble, as well as your planned ensemble repertoire.
We welcome straight classical, jazz – lyrical, familiar, American songbook – and suitable popular tunes. You can stick to one kind, or mix them up.
Speaking to the audience with personal anecdotes, composer stories, and even the occasional historic context story, is absolutely necessary. This audience craves connection.
Speaking clearly, slowly, and with sufficient volume is necessary.
We try to remind the managers to put out a microphone. When you go to a venue, always ask if you don’t see one.
We pay union scale – respectful of your time and skills and talent.
For non-union or ACTRA musicians, we pay $150.
We also pay union dues and pension, and HST where applicable.
That depends on where you are, when you are available, and how many sales we have. This year we booked a total of 346 concerts in 6 locations: 195 in the GTA, 94 in Ottawa and its neighbouring communities, 25 in Greater Sudbury, 14 in Pembroke, and 18 across London and Windsor. Demand for Concerts in Care is rising steadily and we have booked a few “mini-tours” of 5-8 concerts in a 2 week period. We also offer occasional concerts for those who want to give back to their community.
Up to quartet size, yes! As long as it is cleared with Jeanne Lamon, Artistic Director.
If you need a piano or keyboard, we will not send you to a facility that doesn’t have one.
If there is a special instance where their instrument is damaged or unavailable, we can rent a keyboard, but not a piano.
We also offer financial support to tune pianos in facilities where money is scarce.
Only in a few of the very upmarket facilities. Generally speaking you are in the open, with tables or chairs for your instrument cases.
Absolutely yes! Some facilities have them, but sometimes chasing those down can take valuable time.
No. There will be some places that offer you water or coffee, but not too often. These staff members are wonderful but stretched so thin on the ground.
We have a small budget available for cartage of harp, harpsichord, or, when required, keyboards.
If you have no car and the transit ride is more than an hour, we will reimburse Uber, Lyft, or taxi, as long as you and your ensemble can share.
DONORS
Scientific research has proven that high-quality performances of classical and jazz music have positive effects on the emotional, mental and physical health of the elderly.
The almost 50 facilities in which Concerts in Care performs consistently tell us stories about how the residents are happier, more relaxed, less anxious, and more social following our concerts.
The families of the residents, their caregivers, and the staff all find respite in our concerts, as the skills and compassion of the performers rivet the attention of their senior audiences, and allow all who are present to enjoy the music.
The bulk of donated funds goes to pay the musicians, in effect subsidizing the many facilities who do not have the resources to pay what it really costs to have Concerts in Care perform for them.
We operate Concerts in Care with an Executive Director and a part-time Concert Administrator, out of a pleasant one-room office. We watch our operating costs very carefully, as our mandate is to expand the number of concerts we provide and the number of musicians we employ.
Quality costs money. Period.
We expect our musicians to provide concert-hall equivalent quality in venues that often have low-ceilings, carpets, function as walk-through lobbies or multi-purpose rooms. They play for audiences who are generally wonderful but who often have unexpected outbursts, cannot respond as one might expect, and who frequently are new to this music.
We pay because they provide exceptional value in settings where those values may not be recognized, and they do it happily, compassionately, and always professionally.
Absolutely, yes! Just call us and we will match your availabilities with our schedule.
You can certainly recommend musicians, with the understanding that Artistic Advisor Andrew Burashko screens every one before they are accepted as a Concert in Care artist.
We are very happy to receive recommendations and connections to facilities that are new to Concerts in Care!
We are happy to speak with you and to tailor benefits to your donation. We believe in recognizing our donors in a respectful and appropriate manner, and we like to discover your preferences.
Still have questions?
Contact us to find out more about how to become a partner with Concerts in Care.
