Having an organ and no keyboard has made it impossible for me to 'get bookings'. Couldn't possibly move the organ, and wouldn't want to damage it anyway. There was one instance when I did manage to 'play out' .. at our organ club. We had a 'Members Evening' where Members could play their 'party pieces', and it just so happened that they had set up an AR 80 organ (the one that I have) on the stage. And having my own Registration Disks for what I play I was able to set the organ up and play a few numbers. This was the only 'Open Evening' our club has ever had, so cannot say if the experience of that evening was considered a success or not!
But I digress. You have reminded me of an incident that occurred just after we had moved into our Hotel in Weston, in 1979. Whenever I walked down into town I passed a Nursing Home and noticed that they had a piano in their front room. As I play the piano, I just wondered if they would like me to go and provide some entertainment once in a while. Not on a regular basis, as with the Hotel we never knew when we would be busy.
I finally plucked up the courage to go in and ask the Matron in charge. And she said, "Oh! No thank you. They wouldn't appreciate it as they all have one foot in the grave."
I walked out in a state of shock. Remind me when the time comes that I don't want to end up staying
there!
Hugh