Hi Vilan - yes I know, and you do a grand job!

Not all clubs are as 'concert orientated' as yours though, and I should have added that some don't actually need to do all that because they do have a loyal core, or just because the personality of the organiser is enough to make it all work (that's quite common too).

It's the clubs where it doesn't, or where they're constrained to only booking sure-fire names, or only local acts, to the detriment of the long-term viability of the existing guest/foorspot system that I was addressing.

Just to be even more topical...

A friend once said to me that quite a few organsiers are keen performers, so are actually only interesed in booking people who'll pull a big crowd for them to play to.

There may be some truth in that and I'd not be the one to cast the first stone. If I was ever to run a club (and I think about doing so often, specially when the gigs are not going so well!) that would be my motivation too.

But it begs the question I raised earlier.

What happens when the big names retire?

PS Hi Santa - point taken, but if you'd been assured that the guitarist was going to give you a great evening because they're a great performer, and maybe had some proof in the form of a review read out at the previous night or endorsements from people you respect, you'd give it go, wouldn't you? I do hope so!