"My father in law once said you need the hide of a rhinoceros to get a living as a singer in the tough northern pubs and clubs, like you do. And in truth he was right. I know I found folk club performers rather precious (no names - most of them are my dear friends) in their inability to work through and attempt (at least) to assert themselves in periods when the audience isn't giving a hundred per cent attention."

Not just oop nawth WLD, it's much the same south of Watford Gap. Those spells of being musical wallpaper either make or break you as a performer.

One thing I have learned, though, you can't win over an audience by competing with them. The louder you get, the louder...well you know the outcome of that. You lose your voice, or you give up.

I just sing a very quiet song and keep going, and it nearly always ends with someone out there saying "Shhh! I'm trying to hear this".

Of course that's only the start, and you have to keep hold of them as they quiet down.

Mostly it works, sometimes not, but if it doesn't I just keep on keeping on, and collar the money at the end.

Just one other comment. I've heard such a lot about tough northern audiences, but on the occasions that I've performed in places from north of Brum up to Newcastle, I've always found them welcoming and appreciative, if somewhat more likely to rib and heckle if you make the odd mistake. I LIKE northern audiences. Maybe that's why they seem to like me.

Don T.