Bingo is a big deal everywhere from Churches, cruises, gambling ships etc. If you want to find a place to play I think it will take about 5 minutes to find a game close to home. Funny too because all ages like it; men and women alike; And our community is no different. We actually have 3 nights of bingo here which fits all budgets!
MUSIC BINGO is my favorite because it is LOUD and lively and so much fun! Granted it is not for everyone, but nothing is, right?
This is Henry and Jerry. They are our hosts and they do a great job volunteering for us each Tuesday night. There are tons of behind-the-scenes volunteers that bring this thing together and we are extremely grateful for each of them, but Jerry and Henry are the faces that run the show! You might be thinking why is Jerry wearing a Parrot hat? Well, that is his thing. He has tons of unique hats and each week he has a new one. I think people give him hats when they find one that they don’t think he has! Henry runs the computer and keeps us straight with the songs played and Jerry is the MC. He keeps the crowd happy.
Music Bingo is the same basic format as any other bingo game except there are song titles on the sheets instead of numbers. Henry plays a song, and we mark it on the sheet. Pretty simple!
I know some venues of music bingo do not announce the names of the songs after they are played but Henry does. I like to guess the name of the song to see if I am right, keeps my brain ticking! But most everyone uses a music app to get the song titles without guessing. The above sheet is a normal sheet before the game starts. Below is the normal look of MY sheet when the game is finished!
I don’t win very often but, for me, it’s more about the music and the game than the win.
Our restaurant is the HUB of our community. Each night we hold a different event. It is more than just Bingo or the other events. This is our gathering place. There is a routine to it, most of us have our general table (area) where we sit at each week, kind of like church! You can always spot a newcomer; they are at the door with the deer-in-the-headlights look on their faces. Everyone helps them find their peeps, old or new. Music Bingo is a very popular activity, and the rooms are full but there is always room for one more! We celebrate our life’s moments with each other which makes us more like a family.
Dancing is welcomed. Whether it is on your feet or in your chair the point is to have fun. People love to sing along at their tables and remember when these songs were special to us. There are so many categories, each week is a bit different. Jerry roams around the room looking for people who want the microphone to sing along. Most people are singing at their table with all they have until the microphone gets to their mouths and then nothing comes out! It is definitely not karaoke! (THAT is another night!)
Our girl here not only took the mike, but she also gave it her all. She was AMAZING.
Music Bingo is all about the music, our love of music. General categories are normally from the 50s to the 80s, Country (old and new) ELVIS, and Henry adds Theme Songs and commercials too. Once they reversed it and did the ARTISTS as a category, I loved that one but I’m thinking I was probably the only one, I don’t recall it ever being done again. I can be a weirdo! I don’t know how Henry designed the program, I just know it is great fun and we all enjoy it. And yes, the entire room explodes when Henry plays Sweet Caroline, or JUMP, or Celebration, or SHOUT! You get the picture. Just because we are 55+ doesn’t mean we don’t move our feet!
My hubby, John, and I, make it an evening. (full disclosure, he’d rather stay home, but he does join me anyway!) We go up early for dinner and visit with our friends until the music starts. When we participate in these social events, we get out of the house, meet new people and it lifts our spirits. So if you ever see me at music bingo, or anything else, please join me. I’m so glad to welcome you to our little slice of fun and heaven.
MY LIFE IN A 55 PLUS 