Embedded Files
A pretty good month for the Minstrel in June, as might have been predicted from the lineup. It's the first month since I've started keeping show-by-show financial records where every show came out in the black. We averaged 110 paid (144 total attendance) for the three regular shows in June, and 93 paid including the Open Stage. Over the past 12 months, we've averaged 88.6 paid for regular shows, and 74.7 including the Open Stages. Financially, we were $298 in the black for the month, and we're closing in on break-even year-to-date with $99 in the red.
We still put more non-paying butts in seats than I would like. At the Joe Crookston show, for example, between performers and their guests, staff, 2nd-timer pass redemptions, and tick redemptions, 49 of the total 138 attendees (over 35%) came in for free. I'm working with Deborah to try to reduce that number.
2016-17 rental contract with MUF
We got our new rental contract from the Unitarian Fellowship. There were a number of changes from last year:
There was one small price increase for the building rental on high-attendance nights when we use the Terrace Room instead of the Dining Room for snacks. That went up from $343 to $358. As it turns out it was a computational error on their part in last year's contract that gave us the $15 break. But they also gave us some other concessions that more than make up for the increase.
They permitted us to remove the Library from our facility usage at Open Stages (at Christine DeLeon's request), which dropped the cost for our Open Stages held in the Terrace Room from $172 to $121.
Last year we relocated the Open Stages from the Terrace Room to the Meeting Room in June, July, and August (at a hefty price increase) because the Terrace Room has no air conditioning. This year they will permit us to make that swap only if and when the temperature warrants it, making that decision on day of show, rather than locking us in to those three months, giving us more flexibility.
They have also given us permission to leave leftover cold drinks in the fridge from one week to the next.
Parking Lot construction:
There has finally been some progress in the impending reconstruction of the parking lot. That project is the first stage of a fairly massive building renovation and construction plan, which also includes the building of a new 400-seat banquet hall on their property. This whole plan was up for review before the Morristown Zoning Board. And after 3 meetings with the Board, they've finally got the go-ahead to start the project. There are still more legal steps that need to be taken, including oversight reviews and public comment. If they can get that done by mid-August, they will start then. If not, they will wait until next year. We still have the alternative site at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township lined up when they get the go-ahead. MUF is predicting 6 weeks during which the building will be unavailable to us while the parking lot is being reconstructed. I am planning on 8 weeks in the temporary site to be on the safe side.
Noise concerns
One of the things that came out of the public commentary portion of the Zoning Board hearings was a strong neighborhood objection to the construction project and to the activities of the Unitarian Fellowship in general, centering about on-street parking and late night noise. It's unclear whether the Project's activities are the only object of their complaints, or even the primary cause for complaint. A quick walk outside the building during the course of one concert last month informed me that the music was completely inaudible right outside the front door. (Let alone across the street and a good 100 yards from the front door where the nearest house is situated.) So that's not the issue. The complaint most likely centers on 50 to 100 cars departing the premises at 11:00PM. So one of the things that resulted in was a Zoning Board edict that starting immediately, our musical program must end at 10:30, the audience be out of the building by 11:00, and the staff and musicians be out at 11:30.
Revised schedule of the evening's show
That resulted in a lot of squeezing and tweaking of our schedule of the evening in order to comply with that edict, while still not eating too much into the performers' on-stage time, making the break unreasonably short, or requiring the volunteers to arrive earlier than is convenient for them. We settled on moving show time up to 7:45 from 8:00, and cutting down the Opening Act's on-stage time from two 20-minute sets to a single half hour at the beginning of the evening. The earlier shut-down time started on the June 24 show, and the earlier start time will start July 1. The emcees will be stressing to the audience to leave quietly. And I have asked the Publicity Committee to send out a special publicity release to our media outlets.
New Bookings in June
Aug. 19: Sherman & Seihl to open for the River Drivers
Dec. 31: The Inspire Project opening for the Kennedys. A trio of really good songwriters supporting each other's songs with harmonies, similar to No Fuss & Feathers.
Highlights for the upcoming month
Another strong schedule for July including
July 22: John Gorka
July 29: The Birthday Show
Mike Agranoff
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