Dear Boardellos,
I am looking for opinions and help.
Send all specific responses to: fid1dler@optonline.net.
As you already know:
The board discussions about community
and Bob & Pam's wonderful, yet lightly-attended Urban Table visits
led to three experimental after-Minstrel gatherings this summer.
The basic purpose of the after-Minsrel gathering
was to incorporate more Minstrel visitors
into the Folk Project community.
As we already know:
Summer's up. Experiment completed.
The after-Birthday Party gathering was very successful.
The first two gatherings were very modestly successful
and appeared to interest a handful of newcomers.
Most attendees were Project regulars.
NO EXTRA WORK was not done by the regular Minstrel staff.
As some already know and you're about to find out:
The after-Minstrels cost about $40,
and the after-Birthday after Minstrel cost about $100.
My opinions:
This is worth the time and money to continue.
The gains are quite modest,
but they align totally with our social and musical missions.
Jean and I have done all of the advance work,
most of the on-site work,
and a handful of ad hoc loyal and goodhearted late-stayers
have contributed to the clean-up.
If someone believes the after-party is valuable
and is willing to help,
please raise your hand now.
Half of the extra food was scarfed up on the way out the door.
Therefore,
we moved the food from the dining hall into the music room (garden room).
That move worked better at keeping people who eat around longer,
but it created too much noise in the music room.
Socializing and music making are the two essentials
of the after-party and the Project.
But they only mix well at a distance and separated by a wall.
I have thoughts about how to cure this,
but I am interested hearing other's solutions to the talk/music issue.
In brief,
We'll discuss it tomorrow,
it has community value,
and if you're believe that, step up.
And thanks to Jean Scully for stepping up again and again
and never requiring sleep.
Mark