Not a good month in May. Average attendance only 52.3 for the 3 regular shows; 47.3 if we count the Open Stage. We lost $537 for the month. Particularly disappointing was the poor turnout for Rich Deans. Only 55 paid, a goodly portion of which had turned out for the opener, 15 year old Sydney Kayne. One of my stated goals of the Minstrel is to support our own member performers. It makes it hard to do that if our membership won't. Take note: Liza & AJ are featured on June 20, and Christine DeLeon and Mike Del Vecchio will share the night on August 22.
Next month our rent goes up from $250 to $319 per show, and our admission goes up from $8 to $9.
We are starting to think about a special event for Saturday, July 25, 2015, which will be the Minstrel's 40th anniversary
We are investigating a program of ticket giveaways for nights when we don't expect large attendance. Will report in more detail at June meeting.
New bookings since last month
· Aug. 1: Bon Temps Brass Band: an 8-piece New Orleans style jazz band opening for the 18-piece Reeds, Rhythm, & All That Brass. Both acts include FP member Jeff Rantzer on trombone. Probaby the most musicians on stage we've ever had, not including Birthday and VDX shows.
· Jan. 16: Julie Gold. Grammy-winning songwriter ("From a Distance"). Blew the doors off the Spring Getaway crowd.
· Jan. 23: Vance Gilbert
· March 20: Silk City
· March 27: Small Potatoes
· May 29: Brother Sun
Highlights for June
John Gorka June 6 should be a well-attended event.
Mike Agranoff
Program Chair
The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series
Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
http://Minstrel.FolkProject.org