To analise the situation with Stan he opened up a room and hoped that it would be filled with fantastic talent.If he had spent a little bit of money,booked a good guest/guests for a few nights to get things started, then new talent has a go,well known artists hear that it is a good evening and so it builds up.To just open up a room and hope, is almost sure to create a night that he got.
Sessions are going well and attracting good crowds but a strong group of musicians, on a regular basis ,once more is the key.
Folk clubs are a different matter the local singers/musicians get priority over people turning up on the night.We were once booked for a folk club in Southampton and the BBC told the organisers they would be there.The organiser was blackmailed by his local artists that they would not attend the club again if they did not get a spot.To get us ten minutes at the end the plug had to be pulled out of the socket whilst the artist was in full song and refused to get off stage.We were the artists booked and who the BBC turned up to record,our total time on stage eight minutes.This is a club out of control,with a weak organiser.Who would go to a Folk club again if they took their instrument,heard average/poor performances and was never even asked to do even one number.It was this type of attitude that stopped me Folk Clubbing.
Al