The Minstrel

From: Mike Agranoff <mike@mikeagranoff.com>

Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2018 11:53 AM

To: Fullboard@FolkProject.org

Subject: June Minstrel Booking Report

Well, the only word I can use for the Minstrel’s performance in May is disastrous. The two acts we presented this month, The Heather Pierson Trio, and Jim Kweskin, for whom I had anticipated substantial attendance, drew 35 and 52 paid, respectively. Both had substantial guarantees, and consequently, we lost $724 for the month. Year to date we’re in the hole for $1,025.

I am at a loss to figure out what’s going on or how to fix it. What appears to be happening is the breakdown of the community that used to center around the Minstrel. I’ve sat down with Mark Schaffer, and discussed the situation, and come up with a few lines of approach to try.

- The OpenStage seems to be going in exactly the opposite direction with its sense of community, and I’ve talked with Mitch about trying to expand that into the larger Minstrel field. He will try to get some of the OpenStagers to attend and perhaps volunteer at our regular concerts. And he will be booking some of the opening acts at the Minstrel from the better Open Stage performers. That won’t start for several months, as our schedule is full all the way up to September.
- I will book a number of high profile acts with guarantees in the $1,000 - $2,000 range, and subsidize those shows personally, as I did when I established the endowment back in 2002. Mike Del Vecchio has agreed to help me with that. The hope is that this might draw new people to the venue who might be convinced to become regulars.
- As of this writing, I have not yet spoken to her about it, but I would like to talk to Kathi Caccavale about trying to lure some more of the MUF members into our fold. (Kathi, please give me a call.)
- I will be looking for someone well versed in social media, an area in which I’m pretty ignorant, to help gather people through those means. Any volunteers?

I sure hope that June, with Toby Walker and Frank Vignola scheduled will turn this trend around, at least temporarily. The Vignola show is on a Saturday instead of our usual Friday in order to accommodate both Frank’s schedule, and that of the opening act, Windborne. I’m very excited about Windborne, a vocal harmony act of four 20-somethings. And I will be giving the audience the opportunity to vote them into a headline act in November. On the chance that we might sell out for that date, I’ve arranged for the Library (usually the performers’ Green Room) to serve as an overflow room where people can watch the show on the video monitor there. We’ve booked a classroom on the 2nd floor to serve as the Green Room on that night.

New Bookings since last month

- June 29: Our own lead guitar wizard, Chris Bukata will be opening for guitar wizard Jacob Johnson
- July 6: From the Open Stage community, songwriter Heyden Greyson will be opening for Kirsten Maxwell (Heydon seems to be drawn into the larger FP community as well. He’s attended a couple of Evenings of Music, and Sunday at Getaway.)
- August 17: Our own Circle Round The Sun (Jay Wilensky & Marie Trontell) opening for George Wurzbach
- August 31: No Fuss & Feathers headlining, and songwriter Michael Arthur opening.

Respectfully submitted:

Mike Agranoff

Program Chair

The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series

Morristown, NJ. USA