Advice for singers at singarounds:

1. Come on time

2. Tune the guitar before the evening starts, not when it's your go

3. Decide what you are going to do several days before the event, and practise it

4. Learn the words. Know who wrote it, or what the song is about. Leave the crib sheet in the guitar box. You'll be surprised how much your performance will be improved if you actually know the words

5. When it's your go, be prepared. Don't waste time fishing the guitar out of its box, tuning it and waffling about what you did last Wednesday somewhere else

6. Get on with it

7. Don't sing it too fast

8. If you play a bum chord, don't stop and play it again, ignore the error. The audience probably won't even notice it, or they might think it is innovative!

9. If you forget the words, apologise, and if you can't remember them at all, then look 'em up or start a new verse, or give up. Nobody is going to think any less of you. It happens to us all, especially as we get older

10. Listen to what others do and be interested. You might learn something. Give praise where praise is due

11. Don't leave as soon as you've had your go. That demonstrates that you have no interest in what others do. It's also damned rude

12. Be grateful for any friendly constructive advice given, even if you have no intention of taking it

13. Dare to be different. You don't have to sing the song exactly as it is done by somebody famous on a recording

14. Thank the organiser for putting in the effort on your behalf. Buy him/her a pint (Some hopes!)

15. Have a good time. Although most folk songs are miserable or introspective, it doesn't mean the singer has to be too

All offered in the context of the thread, slightly tongue in cheek.

Tone (an organiser, sometimes)