Entertaining in Retirement Communities

By Rod Taylor

A year or so ago I was one of the casualties of our current economic crisis. Since industry today looks like a deserted mine field, I decided to see if there was a job I could do that wasn’t subject to old age or being shipped offshore! My first thought was my first love, music and entertaining.

It’s no secret that club work has, for many years, been sparse to say the least, so I decided to take a look at what was happening in the local retirement communities. That was an eye opener to say the least. My preliminary investigation showed me that in Colorado, the retirement industry is one of the fastest growing industries we have, and that across the United States, 10,000 people per day are retiring!

Now, it’s true that only a small percentage of these will move to retirement communities, but for the ones who do, a whole industry and many offshoots are being created to assist these retirees in their later years. Not only on the human side but the mechanical side as well. The list is a long one.

After playing a few jobs and being encouraged by the response, I had a lady create a web site for me called “All Around Seniors,” so that I could take photos and write about the places I played. I also created an extensive email contact list to get me in touch with retirement communities all over Colorado. This allows me to blog every week and contact hundreds of folks I’d never meet otherwise. It’s also a way of letting many of you know that there’s work out there to be had if you want to do it. Not only for those who specialize in the entertainment field but many others as well. Movers, handymen, painters, financial planners, massage therapists, beauticians, realtors, home health care, legal, medical, dental, you name it, there’s a need if you want to go after it.

The one thing I didn’t have was a way to put the supply together with the demand so the last thing I’ve built is a “service provider” directory on the “All Around Seniors” website so that people who are looking for an inexpensive way to tell others about the service they provide can do it without breaking the piggy bank. The premise is simple, but you need a URL (website) to do it. This is because your website is your ad! When you sign up, you simply list your name, company name, phone, email, and your website. The customer clicks on your website URL, and goes straight to you. From there on out, the selling is up to you! That’s all there is to it! To see it in action, go on allaroundseniors.com and you can see how others have done it already and are pulling customers from it.

Last thing. Cost. From now until the end of 2012, a one year subscription is $5 per month. Hopefully that will do some good and fit into even the most stressed budget. If you have questions, contact me at rodrtaylor@q.com or contact me through the Union Office. They have all my contact information.

Thanks everybody, I hope this helps.
Rod Taylor Local 20-623