Embedded Files
Secretary's note: SEE ADDITION AND CORRECTION BELOW (by Mike)
An interesting and unusual month, which included one Friday closed for Festival, and one Thursday added for the Phil Ochs movie. We averaged 109.0 paid for the month, and 94.8 paid for regular shows for the 12 month period ending in May. These figures do not included the attendance for the Phil Ochs movie night, for which we did not collect any attendance fee, and kept no records. However, it looked as if there were 50 60 in the room. That event cost the Minstrel roughly $300, going mostly to cover the (reduced) rent for the night, the license fee for the public screening of the movie, and the rental of a projection screen. Thanks to MUF for the loan of the projection equipment. Financial figures not available at the time of this report.
The Phil Ochs Song Night was a double-Comma Club night for the performers, with $1390 in fees going to the performers, and $1435 (2nd highest on record since we started tracking them.) in product sales.
I called MUF about ADA compliance of the facility. Here's the situation: As was reported last year, the Fellowship is contemplating either moving or revising its facilities. In June they will be presenting the various options to the congregation to vote whether they will seek new digs or upgrade their current facility. If they choose to remain at 21 Normany Heights Road, part of the upgrade will be to do an ADA compliance study, and determine what work needs to be done. They recommended we put any possible action on our part on hold until they determine what their plans are. I agree with this plan of inaction. I indicated a willingness for the Project to make some small contribution to that effort such as installing a grab bar in the bathroom if they choose to stay.
I booked an act which will take advantage of the "Asses In Seats" grant from the Folk Project as a whole to the Minstrel. A high-powered Philadelphia based Celtic act called RUNA has been booked for January 25, 2013. They will take the usual Minstrel formula of payment with the $7:00 admission against a $2000 guarantee. I anticipate using roughly $800 of the$2000 grant to make that guarantee.
The slight modification to the feature act's pay schedule reported on last month has been implemented.
Working with the Minstrel Volunteer Committee, I have created a database to keep better track of the Minstrel volunteers, and ease Amy's task of sending out calls for volunteers. It will probably require an expenditure of a few hundred dollars for Filemaker Pro software for Amy and the Volunteer Chair in order to implement. Jean Scully and Amy have seen the program, and like it. I am researching what to purchase.
Our turnout for Beppe Gambetta on June 1 was disappointing, and we had to shell out about $230 in guarantee make-up money.
Our traditional Thanksgiving Friday concert featuring some category of Folk Project members will be a Past Presidents Concert, and will be produced by Barrett Wilson.
Bookings made this month:
October 19: Amy Regan,Singer-songwriter booked from a SonicBids submission. Really good, local, and relatively unknown.
November 16: Small Potatoes as feature, with Matthew Broady (FP Festival audience favorite) as the opener.
November 30: The Sea, The Sea, a singer-songwriter duet opening for Brother Sun. They were requested by Brother Sun, and not my choice.
January 4, 2013: The Kennedys
January 25: The aforementioned RUNA Celtic music band with the A.I.S, Folk Project grant. Also an Agranoff Imperative.
Upcoming schedule highlights: I really like Caleb Hawley, the young songwriter currently booked on June 29
Mike Agranoff
Program Chairman
The Minstrel
Morristown, NJ USA
ADDITION AND CORRECTION (by Mike):
One addition to and correction of one omission from yesterday's report:
Financial figures are in. We lost $52 for May despite the high average attendance of 109 paid. The loss was primarily due to the Movie Night being admission-free, despite the fact that it cost us $80 in rent and $200 for the license to screen the film. (Personal note: Please recall that free admission was imposed on the Minstrel Committee by the Board over the objections of the Booking Chair.) We are still $2982 in the black over the past 12 months.
On June 1, we held a post-show music session and party after Beppe Gambetta's performance. The idea was to recapture some of the spirit of community we used to have with the post-show gatherings at various watering-holes and restaurants in the area. This was Mark Schaffer's brain child, and it was relatively successful. We held an impromptu music session in the Terrace Room and conversation & snacks supplied by Mark and Robin in the Dining Room. There were about 10 to 15 participants in the Music Room. I don't know how many snackers and yakkers there were in the dining room, as I was hosting the music session. I left a little after midnight, and it was still winding down at the time. We intend to do at least 2 more over the course of the summer.
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