Running an acoustic music club in Maidstone (DEAD centre of Kent, LOL), one has to try all sorts of strategies to bring people in to listen or participate.

Once a month we do run a format in which we invite performers to come and do 20 minute spots, and we almost always have time left over, which we fill with residents or regulars.

The main difficulty is that many of the invitees are semi pro artists and you can't keep using their services free of charge. Take them out of the mix and you are left with the same cross section that you seem to be querying.

If you work on the basis of performers calling in to book a spot, I don't see any way to avoid getting the occasional duff act and having to listen for much longer than the customary two or three songs in a folk club format.

Don T.