ACOUSTIC GETAWAY

DECEMBER 2014 ACOUSTIC GETAWAY COMMITTEE REPORT

This past month the committee did nothing.

2014 ACOUSTIC GETAWAY COMMITTEE YEAR END REPORT

Our measurements of success are

1. Providing a great experience

2. Attendance

3. Attracting and keeping newcomers

4. Breaking even financially.

1. PROVIDING A GREAT EXPERIENCE:

Surveys rated the Spring & Fall Getaways were about equal: 46 out of 50 for the overall experience and 45 out of 50 for the sense of community. These are very high scores, considering they were averages.

Performers presented this year include: Valerie DuPont, MSG – The Blues Trio, Victoria Vox, James Keelaghan, Frank Vignola with Vinny Raniolo, David Massengill, Julie Gold, Chris Bukata, Jim Hurst, The No Fuss & Feathers Road Show with The YaYas, Karyn Oliver and Carolann Solabello, Yankee Caravan, Li’l Rev, The Jammin’ Divas and Toby Walker.

Of special note is Peter Szego’s presentation of his research, book and actual pre-Civil War guitars from his Metroplitan Museum of Art show on The Invention of the American Guitar.

We identified and improved several aspects several of the program: the selection and level of the workshops, the flow of traffic in the dining hall, and the logistics of The Big Vocalotto. Of note is a higher percentage of workshops by featured performers. Member workshops are an essential part of our program, but featured performers consistently receive higher survey results.

The committee runs very effectively, the volunteer staff is outstanding, and the guests continue to pitch in and help run The Getaway.

2. ATTENDANCE:

Attendance is stable at “sold out.” The long-range goal is to sell out entirely with full weekend passes. That has not happened.

Sunday concert attendance is substantial. The trend of guests leaving early has been reversed. Because people leave early or attend last-chance jam sessions, Sunday-only tickets will be made available even if we sell out with full-weekend registrants. This spring our Sunday Sundae program, where a special guest performer comes in for the Sunday concert, will feature Lucy Kaplansky.

3. ATTRACTING & KEEPING NEWCOMERS:

Attracting first-timers continues successfully and this year improved. Spring Getaway attracted 26 newcomers. The Fall attracted about 33 newcomers. First-timers generally give us our highest survey ratings. Our Fall meet and greet was our strongest yet. First-timers were given special yellow tags to help our regulars identify them, and the regulars have become particularly responsive and welcoming as a result.

Newcomers give the weekend extremely high scores. Many are experiencing the same “festival euphoria” we experienced so many years ago. First timers are returning regularly, as evidenced by a large contingent of 2nd through 5th timers.

The outreach through Meetup.com was extremely successful. Our new Meetup group has over 163 members, the vast majority of whom are new to the Folk Project. We ran two successful music parties, a Pre- and a Post-Getaway Party. These parties were a great way to introduce dozens of new people to The Getaway and the Folk Project. We got five first-timers to the Fall Getaway from this group. The second party was also a Homemade Music Party.

Changing our name to The Folk Project Acoustic Getaway has proven to be an effective part of our outreach. Convincing strangers that we’re called The Festival, but we’re not really a festival is no longer part of the sales pitch. The new name works. The old name is beloved. WTF.

The Acoustic Getaway continues to be the biggest source of new members to the Folk Project.

4. FINANCIALS:

The Getaway continues to be successful. According to Quickbooks, our net income for 2014 is $1300, which jibes with our figures. According to Quickbooks, our net income since beginning our tenure in 2012 is $8700. The Getaway is an ongoing function, and uses its accumulated positive net cash flow to support better and better future Getaways. We hope to break even eventually, but for now we’re making money.

IN CLOSING:

The Getaway receives a huge amount of support from Project members and our attendees. The volunteer turnout has been spectacular. This gets easier to run every time. Mark, Robin, Elizabeth, Pat and Mike D would like to thank everyone for your attendance and support, and for the sense of community you bring to this amazing three-day party.