Minstrel

July was very good, and somewhat eventful month for the Minstrel. Propelled by a packed house for John Gorka on July 22, we finally broke into positive financial territory YTD (including insurance) with a $527 profit. July itself was $568 in the black. We had 176 paid (215 total) attendees for John, and averaged 124 paid (152 total) for the month for regular shows. Including the Open Stage and Birthday Show, our average attendance was 93.5 paid (113.0 total). Incidentally, John took the 2nd-highest fee in our history at $2,054.

The month was eventful in several aspects. We had to cancel the July 15 show when a thunderstorm the night before downed a tree over the power lines to MUF. Between an emergency email to our Minstrel-Gram and Membership lists on Constant Contact, and a special alert message on the website, we managed toget the word out to most people. I complement the Web Team for providing us with the tools to spread the word quickly and easily. Both acts, Reeds Rhythm, & All That Brass and Bill Brandon have been rescueduled for January 6, 2017. Then at the July 22 Gorka show, the building lost all water pressure around 9:30.

We received definitive word from the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship that the parking lot construction would not begin until Spring 2017.

The new earlier schedule with the 7:45 start time, and the single set for the opening act is proceeding without incident, and the emcees are cautioning the attendees to leave quietly. However, we are still examining the evening's schedule and may revise it further.

The Birthday show went well with a paid attendance of 97, and 33 musicians taking part. That was quite a bit down from last year's paid attendance of 141, but much in keeping with that of recent years before that. I imagine that last year being the 40th, it drew an exceptionally large crowd.

I have designated the November 18 show with Mollie O'Brien & Rich Moore as an Agranoff Imperative. Mollie and her brother Tim O'Brien toured for many years and were well known in the bluegrass and country music scene. She is a powerhouse singer, with a magnetic stage personna, and her shows are truly exciting. You gotta see her.

There will be only one regular Minstrel concert in August, the other three Fridays being occupied by Open Stage, Special Concerts, and Uke Fest. That will happen again in October when three Fridays are taken up by Open Stage, Getaway, and the Halloween Show. I have formally requested that for 2017 and beyond, Special Concerts and Member Events coordinate so as to never have any month with fewer than two regular Minstrel concerts, and given them a schedule of available Fridays in each month.

New Bookings since last month:

· November 25: Toby Walker for Thanksgiving Friday

· January 6: Reeds, Rhythm, & All That Brass and Bill Brandon rescheduled from their cancelled show on July 15 as noted above.

· March 17: Spuyten Duyvil (Americana / Roots big band) with Moss Henry & the Bryophytes (Western Swing) opening.

Mike Agranoff