Embedded Files
From: Mike Agranoff <Mike@mikeagranoff.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 31, 2017 at 1:36 PM
Subject: Minstrel Booking Report: January, 2018 -- amended
To: Board FolkProject <fullboard@folkproject.org>
Two things:
First, I had forgotten to attach the graphs I generally supply.
Second: I just got a message from MUF's Administrator that while she can't be absolutely certain, she thinks there have been no Saturdays booked at the Fellowship in June. So that Vignola - Windbourne Saturday show on June 16 is now 99% likely. We'll know for sure on Tuesday.
Mike Agranoff
www.MikeAgranoff.com
From: mike.agranoff@folkproject.org [mailto:mike.agranoff@folkproject.org]
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2017 1:17 PM
To: 'Board FolkProject' <fullboard@folkproject.org>
Subject: Minstrel Booking Report: January, 2018
December, as usual, was a slow month for the Minstrel. We held only one regular show plus the Chorus Song Night, which tends to be lightly attended compared to our regular shows. We averaged 63 paid attendees (86.5 total attendees), and lost $14 on the month. For the year 2017, we averaged 75.4 paid attendees (99.1 total attendees) for regular shows and 61.8 paid attendees (82.9 total attendees) for all shows. Note that since "all shows" include Open Stages, and the Open Stages are no longer under the Minstrel's jurisdiction, there is no longer a need to distinguish between figures for regular shows and all shows for December and henceforth. We wound up $1,565 in the black for the year 2017.
We still continue to experience technical difficulties with Concert Window, and there is an ongoing effort to resolve them between myself, John Mahon, Alex West (MUF's audio-video expert) and C.W. support.
On the weekend of Friday, January 19 and Saturday January 20, the Minstrel and Swingin' Tern will both be featuring the music of Mari Black and the World Fiddle Ensemble. To take advantage of that, and to promote more cross-venue attendance between Minstrel and Swingin' Tern, the Minstrel, instead of having an opening act, will be presenting an "Introduction to Contra Dancing". A number of experienced dancers from Swingin' Tern will be on hand to demonstrate a contra dance in the Terrace Room, with Mari & Co. providing the music. Then audience members will have a chance to try a simple dance, partnering with the experienced dancers. And those audience members who have never been to SnT will be offered free passes to the dance the following night. Many thanks to Leigh Walker and the SnT Committee for their efforts in bringing this to fruition.
New Bookings in December
• Feb. 23: Hiroya Tsukamoto innovative guitarist, opening for Butch Ross
• Apr. 27: Andy Cohen, Ragtime guitarist, singer, and historian
• July 6: Kirsten Maxwell, singer songwriter making a lot of buzz in the folk circuit
• Sept. 7: Betsy Rose & the Chicago Fire for their first headline set at the Minstrel
• Sept. 21: Bill Staines, iconic and classic singer-songwriter
• Dec. 28: The Kennedys, folk-rock favorites
Plus: This is not yet confirmed, awaiting only confirmation from MUF that the room will be available. A special Saturday edition of the Minstrel on June 16 featuring the return of The Frank Vignola Trio, over a year after Frank's injury that laid him up since March of 2016. Frank had specifically contacted the Minstrel for his first return show in NJ. We had a devil of a time finding a date that would fit everyone's schedule. And that's why we wound up on a Saturday instead of a Friday. I should have word on whether or not MUF will be available by the time of the Board Meeting. Also, I am very excited about the opening act I've booked for Frank. The group is called Windbourne. It is a quartet of 20-somethings doing vocal harmony repertoire, mostly acapella, after the style of Finest Kind, no longer touring in the US. I am planning on using their opening act exposure to the likely sold-out crowd that Frank will draw to promote a future headline act for them, similar to the way I did with Butch Ross opening for Tom Chapin last summer.
Highlights upcoming in January
• Jan. 19: The aforementioned Mari Black & the World Fiddle Ensemble with the Introduction to Contra Dancing
• Jan 26: Christine Lavin
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Agranoff
Program Chair
The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series
Morristown, NJ. USA
www.Minstrel.FolkProject.org
Page updated
Report abuse