Hey - It worked, Dave! Don't knock my sales technique;-)

I am a bit surprised that you chose to translate 'anything could, and often did, happen' as 'what is going on here is a load of crap'. Everyone else I explained it to seemed to have no dificulty in understanding it to mean there may be some rough with the smooth. I think most people were glad that they took the chance but, what the hack, we are not all the and if it would have put you off then it is no skin off my nose:-)

On Guest nights we get put on no more than 3 singers and the opening 'residents', each doing, usualy, 2 songs. People have paid to see a particular artist and I do not believe that we should impose our particular tastes on 'paying guests'. In making a decision as to who is on, is it not only fair that those who have done their homework and practised are rewarded while those who do not know the words and have not tuned their instruments go to the end of the que?

On singers nights we not try and get as many singers on as possible. We get on all singers - even if it takes till midnight!

I have looked briefly through the thread again and could not spot anyone advocating that poor performers should not be allowed on a singers night or at an informal session. Can you give me an example? And surely, if newcomers to the 'scene' are kept informed, in the manner I suggested, the conflict between the people who want only the best and those that are more forgiving would not happen would it?

There is plenty of room for everyone and every style. It just seems a pity that the poor performers do seem to add to the caricature image of folk singing that the popular press seem to love! Maybe if everyone was honest enough to admit that there is some dross out there we could formulate a better way out?

Cheers

Dave