Here in Maine you can use the praise you receive to pick out the natives from the tourists. If the audience member gushes effusively aout your performance then they are from away and are feeling free with their praise either because they are happy to be living in Maine or because they are on vacation. If someone sits through the performance without any indication that he or she has heard you and then nods politely at you and leaves then you have just received high praise from a downeaster.

And believe me when I tell you, it ain't easy to earn that praise. Fortunately you don't have to worry too much about it. Most downeasters prefer country western to folk music anyway. As a result they don't hear me play and sing.