Some pertinent facts regarding folk clubs in my local area, specifically those which book regular, or occasional, guest artists.

Audiences depend on the size of the room, and pubs with large rooms tend to want payment. I have been quoted from £10 to £50 per night. This means that the majority of clubs operate in rooms with a capacity of 20 to 30 people.

Admission charges range from about £2.00 to £5.00, depending largely on how often guests are booked. The cost of 1 to 2 pints of beer dosn't seem excessive, I'd say, for an period of entertainment generally as long as, or longer than, a local cinema or theatre charging much, much more.

The last club I helped organise raised about £20 to £25 pounds per week on singers nights, and almost always took a considerable loss on guest nights. Over time we averaged a small profit, which was ploughed back into financing extra guest nights, or more expensive guests, and providing an occasional free night with food (Christmas Party, or Club Birthday Party.

We did negotiate fees with artists, but only where their fee was outside of our budget by an amount that they were willing to discount.

Decent local acts would usually accept £70 to £80.
Well known acts charged between £120 and £200, which was our upper limit.
A very few artists, who could have charged £250+, have asked for fees at the lower end (e.g. Martin Carthy, Les Barker).
Clive Gregson asked what our setup was, and immediately cut £50 off his fee, as did Mundy-Turner.

Do the math, and you will see that this is a tricky balancing act, that would tax the talent of the Great Wallendas.

I have never, in 47 years, met an organiser who fully covered his phone or mail expenses, and I can remember nights when it snowed, or rained heavily, when I have had to empty my wallet, and raid my wife's handbag to cover the agreed fee.

I am very proud of the fact that no artist has left any club of mine with one penny less than was agreed.

As someone said above, if I went motor racing it would cost me thousands to operate for a year, so if I occasionally take a bath on a gig c'est la vie. The rewards come from the music.

Don T.