Festival Report

Spring festival lost approx $4600 (not including stage backdrop upgrade) and $4900 including it. We lost more money this time then the last two fall festivals when we had the same numbers, for two reasons:

• 1. The camp raised the minimums to 170 adults and 30 others. Up from 190 which they would often lower to 170 when our numbers where bad.

  2. The camp no longer charges us 50% of the below minimums, where they would consider 1/2 to be at the adult rate (106.00) and 1/2 and the child rate (79.50) when doing the computation. Ouch!

In spite of that, everyone had a wonderful time and some said it was the best festival ever, so we are still doing something right.

Knowing that we need to make some changes (or maybe not) to festival, in conjunction with my esteemed colleague Barbara Moo, we've been:

• 1. collecting input from people about the whole festival issue

  2. been talking with Fairview Lake camp about our future there

  3. looking into other sites

  4. meeting on the 18th with interested board members and the committee to

     • listen to any other options

     • discuss the input of everyone

     • come up with recommendations to present to the board at the July meeting

By the way I’d like to clear up a misquote that has been attributed to me that; "Money was not an issue for people not coming to festival". I know it is a very big issue. I was probably misquoted when I said something like “Festival is reasonably priced for what you get when we compare it to other festivals, events etc.”.

This brings up an issue which I feel is really separate from our other festival issues (but has become more glaringly obvious due to our low attendance). What can we do to help those in our community who just can’t afford it but we would love to be there and we would love it if they were there?

What can we do: Start a scholarship fund.

• 1. There is a model already in place at Pinewoods which I have talked to them about.

  2. Margaret Crowl has publicly said she will but money in, others have told me privately they would like to anonymously contribute, if anyone is interested please contact me and I will keep it completely confidential.

  3. Further fund the fund by having some events be benefits for that fund.

  4. Use Minstrel/Swingin’ Tern ticks to reduce festival fee (not necessarily part of the fund).

  5. Your suggestion here…

Regardless of what festival becomes (unless we cancel it all together), I feel that scholarship time has come.

If you have any questions for me please feel free to call me on my cell phone 862-432-2766 as I'll be done with my day in Seattle by 8pm EST.

Long Live the Festival!