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From: The Minstrel [mailto:Minstrel@FolkProject.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2014 2:14 PM
To: 'fullboard@folkproject.org'
Subject: December 2014 Minstrel Booking Report
An OK December for the Minstrel. December is usually not a well attended month, as 2 of the 3 shows are traditionally our Chorus Song night and an Open Stage. Those were both lightly attended as usual, with the Open Stage being lighter than usual, not even filling up all the available performance slots. But the Christine Lavin / Don White show put a big finish to the year with 148 paid. We finished $40 in the black for the month and $693 in the black for the year. We're expecting much better performance for the first part of 2015 with a particularly strong schedule.
Starting in 2015, we will discontinue the "Fill-A-Seat" program, which we started in July. This was a program of offering free tickets for shows on which we expected low attendance to members of Fill-A-Seat. The idea was to entice first-timers to the Minstrel, who might come back on their own dime for the stronger shows on which we didn't offer freebies, and to present a fuller house to the performer. At the 7 shows for which we offered tickets, we had an average of 2.8 takers. We decided the benefit wasn't worth the effort of administering the program.
We encountered an unpleasant surprise at the MUF Benefit Concert run by Special Concerts when we discovered some of our stuff was missing. Our old "Minstrel Coffeehouse" backdrop and the creel were missing. It turned out that due to a miscommunication between the MUF office, a MUF volunteer, and a MUF custodian, they had been thrown out. ("Clean out the closet.") The Powers That Be of the Fellowship were mortified at their mistake. It has been resolved that they would replace the creel (They have.), and one of their members who is a skilled crafter in fabrics will create a new backdrop for us. Deborah Graham and Kathi Caccavale will consult with their crafter on the design.
New Bookings in December
· January 16: George Wurzbach (The piano player from Modern Man) opening for Julie Gold
· February 20: Toby Fagenson opening for The Loose Canons
· September 18: No Fuss And Feathers Roadshow Songwriter conglomerate of Carolanne Solebello, Karyn Oliver, and the YaYas, who played at the Fall Getaway.
Highlights for January
Man, they're all highlights!
· January 9: The April Verch Band: High-energy Canadian fiddler/singer/stepdancer in the Natalie MacMasters mode.
· January 16: Julie Gold: Brilliant, witty, intelligent songwriter. Author of Grammy-winning "From A Distance".
· January 23: Vance Gilbert: Great vocalist / songwriter
· January 30: Bill Staines: The archetypical folk songwriter since the 70's. Everyone sings his songs.
Respectifully submitted:
Mike Agranoff
Program Chair
The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series
Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
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