Linda,
I apologise for my knee-jerk reaction.
For me, the right of any performer to perform unhindered is a basic one which you, by deciding in advance that the audience automatically be encouraged to join in, infringe.
I described ealier how Walter Pardon, an elderly field singer, was forced to drop songs from his repertoire because of insensitive audiences.
Walter was far too polite a man to make rules when he sang at clubs, so presumably, were he booked at your club, he would be subjected to the same treatment you apparently subject all your guest singers to.
Had Walter objected in any way he would then, presumably be given the Richard Bridge treatment "he thinks he is better than us".
Surely it is the singer, not the club who should decide on something as basic as whether or not an audience sings along with the songs?
I may have been wrong, but I detected no attempt on your part to explain your policy - rather, a tone of 'this is what we do - so there!!'
Jim Carroll