Minstrel

From: The Minstrel <mike.agranoff@folkproject.org>

Date: Wed, Aug 23, 2017 at 6:16 PM

Subject: Minstrel Booking Report, September 2017

To: FPboard <fullboard@folkproject.org>

Yes, it's early. But the Minstrel is closed for UkeFest this week, and I'll be packing and preparing to go on vacation the following week, so I may as well get it out now. (Please note: I will not be at the September meeting.)

It's been a quiet month at Lake Wobegon. Average paid attendance was an anemic 73.0 for regular shows, and 55 including the Open Stage. We did show a $252 profit for the month, and $1,859 year to date. Average paid attendance over the past 12 months was 86.0, down from 90.0 for the previous 12 months. So we're essentially holding our own.

I found out a little more about the lockable storage room MUF has offered to us. It is a small room in the basement off of the big basement room in which we currently keep our stuff, so it would not be suitable for archival materials, as I first thought. Kathi Caccavale will report on that in more detail at the meeting.

On September 1, I will be trying the same method of promoting a worthy opening act into a feature that I used when Butch Ross opened for Tom Chapin in July. I've booked Jacob Johnson, a young guitar wiz to open for Julie Gold (Writer of the Grammy-winning song, "From a Distance"), and will book Jacob for a headliner if the audience votes him in with at least 25 votes. That combination is not a likely to be as effective as the Ross/Chapin combination, because Julie is not as well know as Tom Chapin, and will not likely draw as big a crowd. But, we'll see what happens. Come on out and cast your vote.

New bookings since last month:

• December 1: Chorus Song Night will be headlined by Bill Staines (!), along with Christine DeLeon, Scotty Rovner, and myself.

• April 6: Emily Mure, opening for Joe Crookston

• April 27: Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman Fabulous harp and guitar duo from England

• May 18: Legendary Jim Kweskin of the eponymous Jug Band of the 60s and 70s

Highlights for September

A generally strong lineup including the aforementioned Julie Gold, and headlined by Vance Gilbert on the 29th.

Respectfully submitted:

Mike Agranoff

Program Chair

The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series

Morristown, NJ. USA

www.Minstrel.FolkProject.org