Concerts

From: Pam Robinson <pam@gsp.org>

Sent: Monday, October 01, 2018 7:17 PM

To: FP Full Board <FullBoard@folkproject.org>; uke committee <ukecommittee@folkproject.org>

Subject: FP - NJUF October report

New Jersey Uke Fest - Report to the Board - 2018, October

New Jersey Uke Fest 2018

Dates: Friday August 24 thru Sunday August 26, 2018

Location: Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey and the Morristown Green

Performers: Victoria Vox; Abe Lagrimas, Jr.; Gracie Terzian; The Aloha Boys and Alan Distajo

Instructors: Dave Kleiner; Mark Dutton; Mihal Gross; Debi Velasco; Tyler St.Clare; FiL Wisneski

Oh my goodness. We had an amazing festival. The performers were a treat, sweet and great to work with. The instructors were charmed and charming.

The volunteers were punctual, attentive and inventive. The attendees were excited, eager and came from all directions. We had folks from as far away as New Hampshire, Virginia, Ohio and all points in between. We had folks as young as 10 and up over 70. And they all walked around smiling, because that is what the ukulele does to folks.

I emcee’d for the first time, ever. Ok, so I only did half the show, but I did it. Then I got back behind the scenes to to keep things running as smoothly as possible. Our hosts the UACCNJ had new management this year so I worked with them all weekend to ensure that the various rooms were set up properly. Committee member Helen Jacobson helped me with the menus and running the food service for the festival. We still have some work to do but things did run more smoothly than in 2017.

The festival was able to offer some additional merchandise this year.

Ukulele strings from DR Strings and Ukulele Capos from Shubb Capos. Both venders agreed to help sponsor the NJUF as a result of contacts made at

FAI2017 and FAI2018. The companies both donated a dozen or so of their products for give-aways and loaned us additional product for consignment sales. I thought it was wonderful to partner with these companies and offer more to our attendees.

We tried an experiment this year, instead of ordering NJUF2018 merchandise we opened a Cafe Press online store. We offered a whole variety of merchandise with our logo on it.

In connection with the 2018 grant from Morris Arts the NJUF offered subsided Folk Project memberships to new members. 15 individuals and families took advantage of this offer.

2018 was the second year that we had a silent auction at the festival to raise additional funds in an attempt to keep our prices as affordable as possible. We auctioned off 4 Ukuleles and 4 Tote Bags of goodies. The FP purchased the tote bags (under $43) all other items were donated by our sponsors. Kala Ukulele; Mainland Ukulele; Strumstick Inc.; Sam Ash; DR Strings; Shubb Capos. We raised over $1,000.

The fest once again had a vendor section in our Lobby. Funky Frets music store; Debi’s Leis and Things; The Hug Strap; Dewdrop Ukuleles; Mara Levine Creations; Stick with my Uke. All of our vendors had a good time and brightened up our festival with lots of colorful offerings.

Financially the NJUF did very well as you can see from the attached QuikBooks report.

As a follow-up to the 2017NJUF, attendee Deb Guarneiri, who had developed a ukulele support system for upper limb disabilities and had asked if she could put out a display at the festival. Kimo Hussey, one of our performers in 2017, saw the display and then met Deb. In the year since the festival they have been working together along with the Ukulele Kids Club (who they also met at the festival) to get her invention into production and out to those in need.

Also of note, earlier this year Kimo Hussey was named to the Ukulele Kids Club board of directors.

I would like to thank my committee, Bob Safranek, Fil Wisneski, Helen Jacobson, Judy Storey, Diane Naar, Mihal Gross, Yolanda Fundora, Andrew Povetz, Jennifer Bross, Mark Richardson for all their work in advance of the NJUF and over the weekend to help make it run as smoothly as it did.

I would like to also thank both my full fest volunteers and the 1 hour volunteers, without you the fest would not be possible.

New Jersey Uke Fest 2019

Dates: Friday August 23 thru Sunday August 25, 2019

Location: Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey and the Morristown Green

Pam

From: Pam Robinson <pam@gsp.org>

Sent: Monday, October 01, 2018 7:18 PM

To: FP Full Board <FullBoard@folkproject.org>

Subject: FP - Special Concerts October Report

Special Concerts - Report to the BOD - 2018 - October

Toby Walker (Strumming with…)

Date: Sunday September 16, 2018

awaiting details

Upcoming Events

Don Julin Improv for Dummies Workshop

Date: Saturday, October 27, 2018

Location: the home of Bob Safranek

Tickets: $40

Point: Bob Safranek

top notch instructor coming to teach improvisational skills to all.

Mile Twelve (Strumming with…)

Date: Sunday, October 28, 2018

Location: the home of Mark & Robin Schaffer

Tickets: $20

Point: Mark Schaffer

fun Bluegrass

Folk Project Holiday Benefit Concert for Morristown Unitarian Fellowship

Date: Friday, December 21, 2018

Location: Morristown Unitarian Fellowship

Performers:

Katherine Rondeau

Mark Dutton

Dave Sherman

Pamela Zave

Kenneth Chin

Randie O’Neil

FP Exposure: $100

Ticket Price: $15

Point: Pam Robinson