Minstrel

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

Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2019 11:34 AM

To: 'Folk Project' <fullboard@folkproject.org>

Subject: Minstrel Booking Report: January 2019

December is always a light month for Minstrel. We only have 2 shows in December, one of which is always the Chorus Song Night, which is generally lightly attended when compared with our regular shows. I try to book a blockbuster for the other show, the one between Christmas and New Years. And in fact I did have the Kennedys scheduled for that show originally. But they had another significant offer for that date, and requested that their show be moved. It was far enough in advance that I couldn’t say no. But I was unable to secure another high draw act to replace them. Consequently we had a poor average attendance of 47 paid for the month, and lost $355. Overall for the 28 shows we held in 2018, our average paid attendance was 70.6 (93.0 total) and we netted a small profit $335 for the year. Again, that was affected by an unexplained period of unusually low attendance for the first half of the year, followed by a return to normalcy in early Summer. We’ll do better this year.

The advance ticket sale program is up and running as of 2019. Our first show for which advance tickets are sold is coming up tomorrow featuring Susan Werner. As of this moment (11:00 AM Thursday) we’ve sold 87 tickets, and advance sales stop at midnight. That’s pretty good for the first time. We’ll get a chance to try out all our procedures tomorrow, and find any rough spots. I’ll report more at the meeting, and in my January report.

We ran into a bit of trouble with MUF this month. Another group that uses the Terrace Room on Saturday mornings found food on the floor after the Holiday Show the previous night. While that’s technically a Special Concerts issue, it does impact the Minstrel, since I’m the one who signs our building usage contract. We will talk about this and come up with some course of action.

New bookings since last month

• April 26: The Annie Donahue Trio opening for RPR. FP member singer-songwriter

• May 24: The Rough & Tumble opening for Jonathan Byrd. Nashville based singer-songwriter duo.

• May 31: Silk City Longstanding popular newgrass trio.

• Sept. 30: Scott Cook opening for Garnet Rogers. Canadian singer-songwriter

Highlights for January

Geez! With January’s lineup of Susan Werner, John Foster, and Joan & Joni, they’re all highlights. But if I hadda pick one, I’d have to go for

• January 4: Susan Werner with Zoe Mulford opening. Susan is my favorite currently performing folk artist, going off the charts in all departments: Vocals, instrumental prowess on guitar and piano, songwriting, stage presence. And the audience will have a chance to vote Zoe in for a headline act of her own in November. The show may very well sell out.

Respectfully submitted:

Mike Agranoff

Program Chair

The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series

Morristown, NJ. USA

www.Minstrel.FolkProject.org