I think the folk scene is a bit different from "business", because although people are there to make a living, their primary goal is to make good music - and most of us enjoy doing that. I've always felt that money is generally the reason why business partners who are pals fall out, but with low-key folk music the problem is largely absent.

As Little Hawk said: "Generally, the larger the amounts of money involved, the nastier things are likely to get."

The other thing is that generally folk singers respect each other and what everyone else is trying to do - and if you help one person out a few times, it's likely that in the future they will support you in return. No folk singer wants folk music to dissappear, so if anyone can prevent this by helping a fellow artist out, they will. And this involves a great deal of friendship. I can't think of any other "business" where this would occur.

TCW