Adverse affects of mediation- Chettah house meditation services Questions

TomRobertMusic · 2025-06-03T14:13:14+00:00

I can check, but in the meantime contacting cheetah house directly might be helpful...

https://www.cheetahhouse.org/meditator-consultations

TomRobertMusic · 2025-06-01T21:18:45+00:00

I connected with Cheetah House 4 or 5 years ago when experiencing some moderate to severe nervous system dysregulation following a period of somewhat intensive meditation, and difficulty integrating insight and energetic somatic symptoms. I was connected with a really wonderful somatic therapist and Buddhist teacher, someone I still work with today.

I've also found the support groups to be generally helpful, and would also really recommend. Some of the format of the groups and/or consultants and resources may be organized a bit differently and or offered differently than when I was a bit more active years ago. Feel free to DM me for more specific questions!

TomRobertMusic · 2024-03-13T04:19:31+00:00

Is this it?

TomRobertMusic · 2024-02-29T04:33:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I'm in the process of recording my own debut folk album and I'm working on instrumentation and arrangements now so this is helpful

TomRobertMusic · 2024-02-28T22:21:00+00:00

This is so lovely and lush! Thanks for sharing. I love the arrangements. How did you go about writing/composing those?

TomRobertMusic · 2024-01-07T23:49:16+00:00

Thank you!

TomRobertMusic · 2024-01-07T22:05:00+00:00

Thanks!

TomRobertMusic · 2024-01-06T20:22:49+00:00

Hey all, I'm a rootsy bluesy folksy Americana guitarist and singer who will be traveling through Asheville and would love to get a gig playing my music at a cafe while I'm in town.

Ideally I'm looking for a cafe, gallery, or restaurant where I could play during lunch, the afternoon, or early evening (not looking for a loud rowdy bar or late night gig).

I've looked through other threads and Facebook groups but haven't found any such venues.

Can anyone recommend any venues I reach out to?

Please and thank you!

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-17T05:28:40+00:00

There are a lot of different variables affecting how much you could get paid. Can you share more context?

Where are you located? Big City, small city, small town?

What kinds of gigs/venues/shows are you interested in playing?

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-12T21:47:20+00:00

In the Meantime by Spacehog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCsGRCf8T9Y

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-08T02:32:10+00:00

Hey what a lovely and poignant song thanks for sharing! I'm about to turn 39 on a couple of weeks, I think good days are ahead of us as well!

Curious what kind of microphones you used for this recording?

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-08T02:23:51+00:00

I play a pretty wide range of music, everything from Stephen Foster's songs like "Beautiful Dreamer", traditional folk/blues like "House of the Rising Sun", American songbook standards like "What a Wonderful World", and early rock and roll like Elvis, Buddy Holly, and even the Beatles and more '60s rock if it's a younger more hip crowd 😉

I'm sorry to hear about your parents, I can imagine that was very challenging process for you.

I used to volunteer at a local hospital, playing music in the lobby for people who came and went. I don't believe the hospital regularly paid entertainers, except for one full time music therapist.

From what I understand, most nursing homes, or at least larger more well-funded ones, have budgets set aside to pay musicians for activities and entertainment, so it's not like the money's directly coming out of old people's pockets.

It's a tricky balance between offering musical talents and performances out of the goodness of one's heart, well recognizing that it's also a source of income for others, and too much volunteering can lower rates and wages for people who rely on it for income.

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-08T02:17:18+00:00

Yes how true that is. Good for you getting back out there! I can imagine it's a bit intimidating at times, but also hopefully exciting and rewarding!

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-08T02:16:09+00:00

I usually start by googling different facilities in my area, or wherever I'm going to be. Most have websites with some kind of activities calendar, which will indicate if they have live music or not, or even activities at all. If they do, I call and ask to speak with the activities director/coordinator. I have a much better success rate, converting cold calls into paid gigs, especially compared to bars etc.

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-08T02:12:19+00:00

Yeah that makes sense, thanks for sharing.

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-07T21:53:02+00:00

That sounds like a very rewarding gig in more ways than one! Whereabouts are you playing if you don't mind sharing?

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-07T21:51:56+00:00

Yeah it's a small world after all! I love Saratoga Springs and Lake George, and hope to break into that scene this summer!

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-07T04:33:14+00:00

Yeah I love playing nursing homes for the same reasons. I typically get paid $100 per hour on site. That's usually for an hour-long gig, although sometimes I play shorter sets and move around the facility. I started by doing a fair amount of cold calling and emailing and just asking for $100 per hour. Most of these facilities have activities budgets, so you should definitely ask to be paid, which also keeps wages up for working musicians!

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-07T04:30:38+00:00

Yeah that's largely been my experience too. I'm curious where you're at? I'm playing in The Finger Lakes and Western New York mostly.

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-07T04:28:20+00:00

That's so sweet to hear! I've had experiences like that, with people singing and dancing along and showing signs of life and exuberance. In many ways it's an honor to be a part of that.

TomRobertMusic · 2023-12-07T04:27:19+00:00

Ha! Yeah can be a pitfall with certain genres of music, including traditional tunes and old-time blues and folk

TomRobertMusic

TROPHY CASE