Avril Betts:

In response to your initial question: There was a club that would not hire me or let me participate in open-stage nights, etc. I too felt at the time that there was a 'closed circle' or some sort of 'folk club mafia.' Eventually it struck me: I had behaved like an asshole and was subsequently treated as such. Always check the mirror first. I learned a very valuable lesson from that experience: BE NICE!

Bruce Murdoch