Getaway

From: Mark Schaffer <markschaffer100@gmail.com>

Date: Mon, Oct 2, 2017 at 8:47 AM

Subject: Getaway Report to Board - October 2017

To: Board FP <fullboard@folkproject.org>

Getaway Report to Board - October 2017

Getaway was essentially sold out. Based on our Spring experience, we’ve added a few more unadvertised slots to accommodate our long-time friends and stragglers.

The Committee and volunteers are geared up and ready to throw a great weekend.

Getaway continues to be a major driver of new Folk Project memberships. Seventeen (17) first-timers registered for the Fall Getaway.

To clear up a misconception, what we consider an increase in membership does not include the bump bi-annual due to renewals or former members re-registering for Getaway. The seventeen (17) number refers to people who never attended Getaway, and appear to be first- time members of the Folk Project.

The major drivers of first-timers appear to be word of mouth, performer e-mails, and Getaway Day. Apocryphal evidence points to the biggest driver is word of mouth by many of our newer attendees touting a great experience to people who already knew about the Project but never attended our functions. We spent less time and effort this cycle on The Acoustic Getaway Meetup, Minstrel flyers and visiting open stages, and this cutback did not hurt the first-timer turnout. At least one person found us with a web search for folk music - a one- timer, not a local.

Some four or five new activities are of particular interest, foremost of which are:

- A second round robin very close to the overcrowded main late-night round robin, so song leaders will get more chances to lead a song than once every hour and a half.

- Adding two open mics: one as a workshop and a late night open stage that coordinates with and supports the Minstrel Open Stage.

A Key Move:

Mitch Radler has taken a strong initiative to make his late-night activity a Getaway Open Stage a showcase for the Minstrel Open Stage. leads. He’s been very creative and energetic in adapting the Getaway’s program needs to advertising and hopefully invigorating the Open Stage interest and attendance.

In addition, the songwriting, sing-along, participation, and private lessons programs have been turbocharged.

Very truly,

Mark Schaffer, Co-chair