Hi

I must attend similar clubs to Will. I haven't heard the Fields of Athenry for yonks.

I do hear the occasional version of Mon Like Thee....but though I don't really rate the song, when it comes up, most of the audiences appear to like it. I guess it depends on the type of area that the club resides and the particular slant of the music at that venue.

I am surprised to hear that floor singers deliberately choose a guest artist's material without asking anyone.

Although I don't perform much these days when I was around I found that prospective singers knew most of the guests and their material and deliberately avoided doing it.

When I was guesting some did ask if I minded if they perforrmed something that they had heard me do. I usually managed to work around these. On a couple of occasions I agreed with the singer to call him/her out and we would do the song as a duet.

Songs I would avoid - most Irish Traditional songs - not because I don't like them but because I am not Irish and never felt that I could do them justice.

I agree with others who have advised that if you really enjoy singing a song then you should continue - maybe try to add something to the standard version - or change the song in subtle ways to provide a different sound.

Finally I have found that the worst people for "switching off" and making noise when repititious songs are sung are the very people who should be giving most attention - yes the so called Traditionalists.

Floor singers should be encouraged not only out of courtesy but for the well being of the continuation of the folk club traditions for being understanding and tolerant.

Cheers

Mike - putting soapbox away....lol