Hi started singing and playing about three years ago here in the UK
I was lucky enough to find a local pub The Tap and Spile in Grimsby.
Here there is a monthly open mike and the landlord pays for avery proffesional sound guy to make us all sound the best we can.
I have sat through some prety rough performances and I have given worse ones.
I have seen some of the best players/singers around here crash and burn.
But this is one of the finest most helpful and encouraging bunch of people you could ever hope to meet.
I have also been lucky enough to be allowed to play at the recently renamed Faldingworth LIve.
Again great bunch of supportive and generous folks.
But the people at Faldingworth pay to get in.
It is a concert style club. most of the people attending travel a fair old way to get there(For the UK).
So the guy that runs it has to maintain a higher standard and (apart from me) he does that very well.
Think you gotta decide which you want your event to be and what you need to acheive.
Then take the plunge and go for the one or the other.
I do realise how lucky I have been falling in with peopel who care enough about music and their fellow human beings to give generously of their time and experience.
I hope that it is the same all over the world because it is a great way to make sure we keep music live.
Cheers Tim