I agree with much of what's been said, and have put in my two-penn'orth on the subject on other threads to the extent that it's beginning to sound like a cracked record. Going back to Dave's original post, I would say that type 3 is a folk club; the other two are not. Type 1 is a small-scale concert, and type 2 is a gathering. Type 3 isn't 'a mixture'; the other two are develpoments of parts of type 3. there were always gatherings, of course, before folk clubs, but they happened on an occasional and informal basis (still do), in people's houses, and with no entrance fee.
I am currently doing what Tom Bliss mentioned - 'millions of freebies...', and it's hard work, but it's getting me known, and getting me some dates. I'm also finding that a lot of people come and talk to me afterwards, and I get some interesting comments. One recent comment seems pertinent; a lady came over to me at the end of one singaround, and said "I've heard 'Lakes of Ponchartrain' sung badly so many times that I thought I never wanted to hear it again, but you've restored it. Thank you." I treasure comments like that, but I'm not quoting it for egotistical reasons; I know exactly what she meant, and it's an unfortunate thing, but much of what's heard in singarounds is - I'm sorry, but it has to be said - pretty dire. Of course, some amateurs are brilliant, others are not (and yes - the same can be said of professionals!) and you take the rough with the smooth, but it seems that when everybody in the room is having a go, the balance shifts towards the 'dire' end of the spectrum. And I can't help feeling that this is a factor that is putting people off the folk clubs. If an 'outsider' is persuaded into a club, only to hear one song after another being slaughtered - and increasingly this is being done by people who don't even know the words - why would they come back? And if folk club regulars no longer want to hear well-loved songs like 'Ponchartrain' due to bad performances, what good is that doing to folk music? I know it's dangerous for me to make such comments and - this being Mudcat - there will be those who will misinterpret my intentions and start the sniping, but I love this music, and want to see it survive.
To answer Dave's final question about the way ahead, I would say that whatever can be done to restore some sort of balance that helps the music, rather than the desires of everyone who wants to 'have a go' would be a good start.
John Kelly.