Troubadour

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

Sent: Monday, May 4, 2020 11:59 AM

To: 'FP Board' <fullboard@folkproject.org>

Subject: Troubadour Booking Report -- May 2020

In consultation with Jean Scully and Mark Schaffer, I’ve come to the decision to cancel all Troubadour activity through the end of July. In early March, just about when the coronavirus crisis started to become real, I had booked very little of the Summer. There were only one or two bookings between June and September, plus the Birthday Show and a few other non-Troubadour events. Between then and now I was loathe to book anyone for that period, given the likelihood that they would have had to be rescheduled anyway. So, with a largely empty summer schedule, I decided to make that official. All Open Stages before August and Summer Songs are also cancelled. I have relayed this information to MUF.

A number of the cancelled spring acts chose August dates for their reschedule. (See later in this report.) Of course, that was provisional, depending upon the state of the pandemic. When we do go back into operation, we’ll have to make some adjustments, depending upon whether or not social distancing is still in effect. If it is, the capacity of the room will be significantly reduced. Currently we need a paid attendance of about 70 in order to break even. That might be just about the capacity of the room. Perhaps we might get some rent relief from MUF? We’ll make decisions as we get a better indication of conditions as August approaches. With big name acts on the schedule like John Gorka on September 11, we may try to negotiate a lower guarantee.

Understanding that our live attendance may be down when we resume, whether by social distancing requirements or the reluctance of some people to gather in groups, I’ve asked John Mahon and John Lamb to resume investigation of webcasting our shows when we resume.

New Bookings since last month (all provisional depending upon prevailing conditions):

  • August 7: Mike Agranoff with The Annie Donohue Trio opening Our first show after the pandemic rescheduled from June 5.

  • August 21: Bill Staines with The Greystone Singers opening rescheduled from April 24.

  • August 28: The Groovebarbers with The Levins opening rescheduled from June 19

  • October 16: Trout Fishing in America with Carla Ulbrich opening rescheduled from April 17.

  • October 23: Jesse Ruben rescheduled from June 1

Please note that in the attached upcoming schedule all bookings in parentheses with a question mark after them are currently proposed, but unconfirmed.)

Respectfully submitted:

Mike Agranoff

Program Chair

The Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series

(Formerly the Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series)

Morristown, NJ. USA

www.Troubadour.FolkProject.org

From: 'John Lamb' via Fullboard - Current and some former board members <fullboard@folkproject.org>

Sent: Monday, May 4, 2020 2:57 PM

To: mike@mikeagranoff.com; fullboard@folkproject.org

Subject: Re: Troubadour Booking Report -- May 2020 -- Addendum

I am still recommending that we investigate onlineconcertthing.com for when Troubadour resumes. They charge 25% of all show income, both pay-per-view and tips, with a $10 per show minimum fee. Concert Window charged 30% without a minimum for the same service. Like Concert Window, they pay the streaming rights licensing fees from their cut. Unlike Concert Window, we can have them store shows for future paid viewing. They have started fairly small, with a roster of a few individual artists, but are looking to expand use by venues. I see that the Berkeley Dulcimer Gathering on May 15 is using them, Sam Edelston is involved with that and will be appearing on at least one of their broadcasts. He may be able to tell us about how that worked for them in a few weeks.

John

From: 'Evelyn Maurer' via Fullboard - Current and some former board members <fullboard@folkproject.org>

Sent: Monday, May 4, 2020 8:27 PM

To: fullboard@folkproject.org; mike@mikeagranoff.com; john.lamb@folkproject.org

Subject: Re: Troubadour Booking Report -- May 2020 -- Addendum

Hi, John & Board,

John's suggestion about onlineconcertthing.com sounds like a good idea

Thanks, John!

Evelyn Maurer

FP Community Service