Tom, whilst I've written a few tunes I'm not a member of the PRS and I'm not looking for royalties for myself, so the Gigs and Clubs Scheme doesn't apply to me (and it's hidden on the members-only part of the website). However if the PRS is getting a fee from the venue I'd prefer to see it going to the composers whose music I play, rather than enriching Paul McCartney or my slightly more famous namesake.

But quite frankly, since the experience with the folk club I referred to in my last post I've been a little wary about drawing the PRS's attention to any venue I play in.

I'm not sure what the solution is. The present arrangement for collecting and distributing fees is simple but not very efficient or equitable so far as minority interest genres such as folk are concerned. The cost is small, but it can be a disincentive, since the owner of the venue (who is responsible for getting the licence)isn't promoting the music event. If it's a formal club then he can pass the cost on (if he wishes) in the hire charge for the room, but that is less easy when it's just a bunch of customers in the corner of the bar.

As you say, the PRS probably doesn't understand how folk music works, in particular the idea of a non-commercial, informal session seems quite alien to their system.