Andyman accuses me of missing the point re- fringers not contributing to a fest. I do in fact accnowledge the part fringers make to a fest, my quote "If a festival is thriving then the ratio of paying to non paying punters is about right". Should cover this.

My point was not that they don't contribute to a festival, they do, they also help the local economy, but this does not pay the organisers bills.
I agree that all aspects of a festival are important, I go to sessions sometimes, but I rarely have the time, because there is always someone on that I want to see.
Also I find, (a bit of a contentious issue this),that when I do take my guitar or melodeon, i'ts not easy to get into the 'clique', especially a singaround. But thats another issue.
Cheers
Les