Embedded Files
A good month for July with an average paid attendance of 91.3 for regular shows. And it shows how well we're doing when that number is less than our average for the past 12 months of 94.4. Last July and the previous 12 months were 105.7 and 91.3 respectively. We are $318 in the black for July, and $2872 in the black for the past 12 months, both well above those figures from a year ago. Highlight of the month was probably Jack Williams' masterful performance on July 6 with special treats Naomi Sunshine and Grover Kemble opening. (Modesty precludes me from mentioning the show on July 20.)
The volunteer database is now in operation and the volunteer e-mails are being sent out on Constant Contact. There should be a more detailed report on that from the Minstrel Volunteer Committee.
I received a notice from MUF that our rent was to be raised from $225/show to $295, and increase of 31%. I raised some objections at such a steep hike, and offered a counter-proposal of $250. They seemed amenable to haggling, but as of this writing have not heard any response from that.
I heard through unofficial sources (Steve Humphries) that the decision of MUF's site-search committee was that they would remain in their current location. Any specific plans of remodeling are decidedly unspecific at the moment, and off in some indeterminate future.
In order to avoid conflict with Falcon Ridge this year, the Birthday Show has been pushed back a week to August 3, rather than July 27 which would have been closest to the actual anniversary of July 25. Participation is up from last year with 20 groups scheduled, compared with 16 groups last year. I will report more fully on the show at the meeting. There were 96 paid attendees (performers do pay), and the show cleared a couple of hundred dollars. This is well below the heyday of a decade ago, but still improved over recent years. Some of our newest and youngest members made a big hit.
It appears that the Folk Project has been in arrears with our ASCAP fees. It was the understanding of those who were handling their payment that we need only pay them annually, whereas the ASCAP contract specifies quarterly payments. The amount due for 2011 was only paid last month after the Project received a dunning letter from them. And payment for the first two quarters of 2012 had not yet been paid either. I have now assumed the responsibility for administrating the ASCAP fees, and have seen to it that the outstanding 2012 fees were paid. Special Concerts should take note that they too are responsible for paying ASCAP fees for ther major concerts (house concerts and workshops are exempt), and should prepare a report for the upcoming Trout Fishing concert this December. It's sort of interesting to note that any of our performers whose songs are registered with ASCAP can provide setlists to us for us to submit to ASCAP to make the performers eligible for live performance royalties from that organization. Despite that information's being prominently spelled out in our Performer Letter of Agreement, we've received only 2 setlists from performers in the entire 2 years we've been a registered venue with ASCAP.
New bookings since last month:
· Sept 21, 2012: Bob Andrews (Played a "threebie" at Spring Festival) replaces Luke Liddy, who had to cancel opening for Christine DeLeon.
· Oct. 19, 2012: Rachel Marie Schrachter (one of those youngsters that were so well received at the Birthday Show) will open for Amy Regan.
· May 3, 2013 Ellis: A singer-songwriter much beloved of the Falcon Ridge crowd.
Highlights for August:
In addition to the aforementioned Birthday Show, Grover Kemble will be doing a solo show on August 31. He and Naomi Sunshine were in no small part responsible for the 120 paid attendance at the Jack Williams show on July 6 for which they were the openers.
Respectfully submitted:
Mike Agranoff
Program Chairman
The Minstrel
Morristown, NJ USA
Page updated
Report abuse