Anon
My comments were global and not aimed at anybody in particular.

I think festivals are a different kettle of fish. People pay good money to see a variety of performers. Some they like, some they don't. These people are music lovers and enjoy what the festival offers. It is unusual to see a performer do more than 1 hour as a gig, more likely 40/45 mins.

That is a lot different to listening to one artist do 90 minutes at a folk club or venue. That is where the organiser has to decide if a performer can entertain his/her audience sufficiently to make them want to come back. The target audience is not your festival goers, rather sit at home and watch the telly audience.If you can get them off the bums, they want to be entertained. I can see the reason why many clubs run at a quarter full.

I have many performers I love to see personally, but when I put my organiser hat on, I am a different person. I have to think of what the audience will like.

If I do book a pro, I have already decided that I think the audience will enjoy them.
However, i can't sit back and think that is enough. I need to let as many people know so that hopefully people who know and like that performer will come along too.
I also hope that the people who come along who trust my judgement but have never seen the performer before enjoy it enough to want to see them again.

Does all that make sense? I'll go and charge my battery up.