Minstrel Booking

Only one concert and an Open Stage in August. The Open Stage attendance was very light (14 paid). Overall the average attendance for the month was 42.5 paid (57.0 total), and 71 paid (88 total) for the one concert. We lost $283 for the month, putting us $175 in the black YTD. Our attendance over the past 12 months averaged a healthy 90.0 for regular shows, and 75.4 includining the Open Stage, a small increase over the previous 12 months. Profit and loss comparisons shown on the attached Chart.pdf between this year and previous years are misleading, due the fact that the Minstrel is accounting for its own insurance costs starting this year.

Currently, the Open Stages start at 7:30, 15 minutes earlier than the regular shows. In order to simplify our publicity releases, we are contemplating moving the regular shows up to 7:30, so that we can have a common starting time for all shows. Deborah will report that enough of our volunteers can deal with that change to allow us to do so. I have created a survey on Constant Contact which will be emailed to our membership and the Minstrel-Gram list to feel out our audience on that change. That change would also allow us to go back to our previous show format of having the opening act do two 20-minute sets instead of our current single 30-minute set. The survey also asks how our patrons feel about that change. Based upon the results of that poll, we will adjust the showtime and show format starting in 2017.

I received an email from the Folk Alliance (of which the Folk Project is a member organization) addressed to all venues. They asked us to contact our US Senators, and ask them to pass a bill in congress to expidite work visas for foreign artists seeking to perform in non-for-profit US venues. (You may recall James Keelaghan was forced to cancel his show at the Minstrel due to delays in his receiving a work visa.) I sent the following email to Senators Menendez and Booker:

"Dear Senator (Menendez/Booker)

I am writing to ask your support in passing the Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act, S. 2510. This bill would improve processing for visa petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-related organizations by simply ensuring enforcement of current statutory requirements.

"I am the Program Chairman for the Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series (www.Minstrel.FolkProject.org) , which is a production of The Folk Project, a not-for-profit 501c3 corporation based in Morris County. The Minstrel has just celebrated its 41st year of presenting weekly concerts, currently using the facilities of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morristown. We present artists based locally, across the country, and from abroad. We have often experienced difficulties with our foreign artist being unable to obtain O and P arts visas due solely to delays in the processing of those visas by the INS. Just this past spring, an artist from Canada we had booked was forced to cancel his tour, even though he had applied for his visa 9 months before his scheduled appearance. This artist had performed for us in the past, and there was no conceivable reason to reject the visa. It simply was delayed in processing.

"This bill will ensure that the U.S. visa process for artists is reliable, efficient, and affordable. Congress recognized the time-sensitive nature of the arts when writing the 1991 federal law, which instructs USCIS to process O and P arts visas in 14 days. The ARTS Act would require USCIS to treat as a Premium Processing case (15-day turnaround) any nonprofit arts-related O and P visa petitions that it fails to adjudicate within the statutory timeframe, free of additional charge.

"As you know, American nonprofit arts - in communities large and small - provide an important public service and boost international diplomacy by presenting highly sought-after foreign guest artists in performances and educational events. The inconsistency of the visa process has extremely harmful results to touring international artists, U.S. presenting organizations, their audiences and American artists who are scheduled to work with international talent. Enactment of this provision will make enduring improvements to the visa process. Previous consideration of the ARTS Act has had strong bipartisan support.

"We believe it is vital that international artists be able to perform in the United States and hope that you will voice your support of S. 2510."

New booking since last month:

November 25: Orrin Star opening for Toby Walker

May 19, 2017: The Loose Canons: 11-member acapella group featuring FP members Murray & Randi Spiegel that packed the house in February 2015.

May 3, 2017: Orrin Star headlining. Hot flatpicking guitar & Mandolin

Highlights in September

September's shcedule is very strong overall, but is headlined by Brother Sun on Sept. 9. (That was the only date they were available, so the September Open Stage, normally scheduled on the 2nd Friday, was moved to the 30th.)

Good of the Order:

At the time you all will be gathering for the Board meeting, Jenny and I will be on board a lake boat for a cruise to Isola dei Pescatori, the most beautiful of the Borromean Islands in Lago Maggiore, Italy, after having completed a 10-day rail tour through the Swiss Alps.

Mike Agranoff