Special Events

From: Mark Schaffer <mark.schaffer@folkproject.org>

Sent: Monday, April 6, 2020 11:44 AM

To: fullboard@folkproject.org

Subject: Re: Special Events Committee Report to Board - April 2020 - Corona Edition

Regarding the comment that

Booking in advance is much easier today than it was only two weeks ago.

Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy solved home broadcasting this morning

and are performing for the Stayaway on April 24th.

Mark

On Apr 6, 2020, at 9:58 AM, Mark Schaffer <mark.schaffer@folkproject.org> wrote:

Hey, Board,

How are you doing?

1. Cancellations:

NJ Uke Fest was cancelled immediately, as it was a solo decision. The Bromberg concert was postponed and Getaway cancelled at the moment the other significant parties came to realize the new COVID reality.

Bromberg will likely be delayed until 2021. Performers were also cancelled for the Fall Getaway. Though unlikely, we can put on a Fall “Testival” Getaway with little advance notice. The Testival was a weekend of guest performances and no workshops.

Special events rely on maximum attendance to meet financial goals. They are cancelled because attendance is unpredictable and most likely lower than acceotable.

2. The Acoustic Stayaway:

The Special Events Committee got an early jump on social distancing and then isolation. The mission was:

1. Serve our members and the public during isolation with regular, virtual programming.

2. Serve our suddenly-unemployed performers financially.

3. Keep the Folk Project relevant while our core mission - live events - was not safe or practical.

4. Assume six to eighteen months of isolation before resumption of live events.

5. Launch Stayaway programming quickly to establish a presence with the public.

Technical Challenges - Background:

There are two types of e-platforms: one-to-many (a concert) and many-to-many (a group discussion).

Both were explored for weeks by our tech team, Todd Dennison, Bob McNally, Paul Fisher, and John Lamb, and by our non-technical team, me.

The Concert Solution:

The Stayaway avoids technical and legal issues by not choosing any platform at all. The performers create their own broadcast platform and donation button, and then send us a link. We assign the performers a date and time. We then provide the performer's link to our audience.

The Group Discussion Solution:

There were many viable platforms examined for three weeks. After a few failed experiments, Zoom was the clear choice. Todd is the Project's Zoom Administrator. He is solving technical issues and instructing leaders new to Zoom.

Dave Kleiner, Jay Wilenski, Bob McNally, Paul Fisher and I have user credentials. However, presenters are free to choose another platform if they wish. Bob uses Google.

Programming:

All programming begins at the same time to increase audience awareness: 7:00 pm Concert performers are asked to perform in isolation and perform their own copyrighted material. Concerts are Tuesday and Friday. Workshops Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The workshop mission is intra-Project bonding and communication. It begins this week. Workshops Leaders are Jay Wilensky, Bob McNally, and Dave Kleiner. Gary Pratt will lead a songwriters performance/discussion workshop hybrid on Sundays. The idea is to recycle concert performers and add member performers to the programming.

Advertising:

Liz Pagan designed the Stayaway banner. Kathi Caccavale is posting and advertising on Facebook. Stony Point is forwarding Stayaway concert news to their community. Ron Olesko’s Folk Music Notebook internet radio station is announcing our e-concerts.

John Lamb is redesigning aspects of the Project home page to list the extensive Stayaway schedule. When the home page reflects the extent of our programming, we will contact major news outlets as a feel-good story. Emails go out twice a week to all Project email recipients with excellent results.

Every email has been up against a rushed deadline, so thanks to Preafrooders Jean Scully, Robin Schaffer and Pat Brangs who catch me when they can.

Results:

We completed four concerts: Toby Walker, Julie Edelston, Vance Gilbert, and Christie Lenée. Every performer's attendance and income was increased dramatically over their other broadcasts. Every performer was thrilled, grateful, and want to perform for us again. At this moment, more performers are learning home broadcasting. Booking in advance is much easier today than it was only two weeks ago.

Upcoming concerts:

Nikki Talley, Zöe Lewis, Brooks Williams, Liam Robinson & Jean Rohe, and Annie Donohue & Todd Somebody. Nikki’s Tuesday concert will end after the meeting starts, so I’ll be late.

Conclusion:

The Stayaway launch was a huge, wonderful, productive, fun, and exhausting undertaking. Thanks to Todd, Bob, Paul, Gary, John, Kathi, Ron, Jean, Pat, Robin, Jay, Dave and Liz. Special re-thanks to Todd and Bob for their enormous early efforts, support and advice.

Party at Mark & Robin’s when this is over.

Mark Schaffer

Special Events Chairman