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I played one of the most enjoyable gigs in a long while last Friday evening. I got a call for my jazz combo to come play at a Senior Prom. After questioning whether they had called the right band ("Oh, yes... we have heard a lot about you") and whether they knew what kind of music we play ("30's and 40's... right?") we went to play the job. It was a Senior Citizens Prom! These folks were dressed to the nines and ready for dancing. A lot of them did not get to attend their own HS proms (money, dropped out, went to war, etc.) so this was their chance. Since so many of the women were widows... the little old men who were there danced a LOT! One little old lady sat at the front table and named every tune we played. She even knew "Isle of Capri", "Strictly Instrumental", "Angry". We are already booked for next year. This one makes up for the ones where people talk over us and do not dance at all.

Great story, great gig. Thanks for sharing Carroll.

Was this in central PA? I just saw pictures posted on facebook of a "Senior" Prom my alma mater's key club hosted. I thought it was a great idea and it looked like they were having fun.

This was in VERY rural Fentress County Tennessee.

bloke wrote:

Carroll wrote:This was in VERY rural Fentress County Tennessee.

Over the past few decades, sophisticates have been driven from urban to rural areas.

Nice thought, Joe... but I do not think these folks were ever urban or particularly sophisticated. Just good folks who like to dance. The sophisticates have settled in Crossville (about 30 miles closer to civilization). My big band plays a monthly dance there, as well.

My Civil War band recently played a period ball for a home-school organization. We have played many, many balls over the past 20 years, but never for high school age kids [and some parents, too].We wondered how our music was going to go with that age kids, but we were bowled over by their enthusiasm, creativity, sense of the history, and willingness to learn an alien [to them] art form. They were courteous, respectful and down-right fun to play for. Hopefully we will play this one again.

My student leadership group in college sponsored a senior citizens' prom as well. While I didn't play, I got to dress up in tails and a top hat and dance with all the little old ladies. It was a blast!

Mine was playing last Friday for celebrations of the Royal Wedding of William and Kate at Bucklebury, the village where Kate Middleton's family lives. We played a sort of last night of the Proms programme to flag waving audience of almost 3,000 with parts also broadcast live on the BBC and Sky.

Neptune wrote:Mine was playing last Friday for celebrations of the Royal Wedding of William and Kate at Bucklebury, the village where Kate Middleton's family lives. We played a sort of last night of the Proms programme to flag waving audience of almost 3,000 with parts also broadcast live on the BBC and Sky.

Now, that must have been pretty cool!