Today, at the Borderline Folk Music Club of Rockland we hosted Magpie, the folk duo of Greg Artzner & Terry Leonino.

Anyone who is familiar with Magpie's music knows that they are not friends of George W. or the Republican Party.

In the middle of the first set, when the music started to turn political this lady and her friend got up and approached me asking for their money back. They said they came to hear "folk music" and not "hateful political rhetoric". They claimed that my advertisement for a folk music concert was a mis-representation. They came for music and not politics.

The 2 ladies walked out but I refused to refund their money for 2 reasons.

a) If you go to a theatre and walk out in the middle because you do not like the play, or in this case the concert artist, you are not entitled to a refund.

b) Admission fees to a house concert is a "suggested donation" for the artist. Our club does not make a profit or retain any of the proceeds collected. All monies collected and then some go to the performer. The club can not authorize a refund of money that is not legally theirs. The money is collected on behalf of the the performers and only they can refund THEIR money.

Being that the ladies walked out in the middle of the performance they could not at that time speak with the performers. They sent me an e-mail asking that I forward it to the performers and to our club's treasurer, the implication being that they are ready to pursue this matter in small claims court for a refund of $20 per person.

I would welcome the thoughts of my fellow Mudcatters on this matter with any advice that you can give me.

SOL