From: The Minstrel <mike.agranoff@folkproject.org>
Date: Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:25 PM
Subject: Minstrel Booking Report, October 2017
To: Board FP <fullboard@folkproject.org>
September was a lackluster month for the Minstrel. Our average paid attendance for regular shows was 73.7 (94.0 total attendance.) The Open Stage was particularly light with only 12 paid, which brought the average for all shows to be 58.3 paid, or 76.3 total. Financially, we were $189 in the black for the month, and $2,293 in the black YTD.
On September 1, I had booked guitar whiz Jacob Johnson to open for Julie Gold on the same basis that I had booked Butch Ross to open for Tom Chapin, allowing the audience to vote as to whether or not to bring him back as a headliner. Over 25 votes would get him the booking, and he got 45. So he's booked for June 29, 2018.
In an effort to increase the cross-polinazation of Minstrel and Swingin' Tern attendees, I attended the SnT dance on September 16, and offered the dancers who had never attended a Minstrel a free ticket to any future Minstrel show. I figured with Pete's Posse (a well-known contra dance band) playing the following Friday, we'd get some customers. I was very disappointed that we had no takers. Leigh Walker attended the Pete's Posse show, and made a similar offer to anyone who had not attended a dance a free ticket. I do not know if he got anyone.
Concert Window continues to offer technichal challenges, which we are dealing with. In the 10 broadcasts we've made since we initiated the program, we've averaged $23.80 in CW revenues per show, half of which goes to the Feature Act.
I've been having difficulties in finding hosts to house performers after their show, so I will put out another call in the November Newsletter.
New Bookings since August:
• March 2: Magpie
• June 29: the aforementioned Jacob Johnson
Highlights for October
• Oct. 13: Rosie & the Riveters, Female harmony trio doing songs in the style of the Andrews Sisters, with Betsy Rose & the Chicago Fire opening.
Respectfully submitted:
Mike Agranoff
Program Chair
The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series
Morristown, NJ. USA
www.Minstrel.FolkProject.org