Someone asked - can't find it now - "are floor singers not punters?" Well, yes, if they go to clubs to be entertained, and like to get up some weeks and do their two songs. No, if they desert your club en masse every time you book a guest, and are only prepared to show up when they know they can sing.

Hmmm. When I started going to my local folk club (which was about six months old at the time) it was all floor singers every week; there wasn't even a regular slot from the MC (I've never known why, he's a fine performer).

It was some time before we had an act of any description. When we did start getting acts in, though, I noticed two things: the door tax doubled (to an extortionate £2) and the time for floor singers halved. I don't go out every week - and I haven't been performing very long - so it seemed like pretty reasonable behaviour for me to give the artist nights a miss unless I thought we were in for a particularly good night. (You may have noticed my comments on the thread "John Kelly - book him now!".) I must say I never thought I was treacherously undermining the club; I rather thought I was one of the ones keeping it going.

More on this later, perhaps.