Special Events

October 2021 Special Events Report to Board

Mark Schaffer, Chair

NJ Uke Fest Subcommittee - Mark

NJ Uke Fest profited a bit more than expected or desired: $973. As reported last month, the house festival format compensated for the limited registration income by eliminating rent and hospitality costs. Hiring nearby artists also focused the budget on maximum talent at minimum cost. See last month’s report for the long list of contributors who made the weekend fantastic.

Special Concerts Subcommittee - Mark

The Troubadour at Home, our transitional live and online concert series between COVID isolation and the opening of the actual Troubadour in September, made $260 profit. As previously reported, attendance ranged from 18 to 45, not bad considering it was a brand new ten-week program for audiences unsure about coming out of isolation. The ones that came, loved it. Thanks to the donor family - major supporters of the Acoustic Getaway - for making the series financially possible for the performers and the Folk Project.

Event Hosting Subcommittee - Jay Wilensky

Event Hosting had another productive month. The September 19 Afternoon of Music in Lewis Morris Park was a success, with total attendance in the neighborhood of 35, non-stop music, and typical Project camaraderie. Another Afternoon O’ has been scheduled for October 9, same location.

The Monday song circle just keeps on rollin’. Our average attendance remains at approximately 20, and we have difficulty wrapping up by 9:30, ½ hour past the official closing time. A highlight came on September 6, when Louise Mosrie and Cliff Eberhardt spent the entire evening with us. We’ve booked guest artists for every week in October, including Tom Kimmel, David Roth and Joe Crookston. It’s also worth a mention that the exceptional Massachusetts singer/songwriter/guitar virtuoso Raymond Gonzalez, who has been a regular since inception, put a dedication to your humble Chair and “the Monday nighters” on his latest CD.

And, plans are under way for a virtual Halloween show, to be held on Zoom on Saturday, October 30,