Pip, you may be right. What's more, the uncritical audiences have created an environment which drives the critical ones away.

I used to go to at least a couple of folk clubs a week. One was purely a singers' club, no guests, but the standard was mostly fairly good. The other had booked guests most weeks, and a pretty high standard of floor singers. I don't think that had to be policed, rather that the poorer singers realised they would be out of their depth and didn't put themselves forward. There were other places they could sing.

I was happy to only play a couple of songs myself because I knew I would enjoy listening to the other performers.

Now, guest clubs have more or less disappeared (around here anyway) leaving just the singers clubs. I'm not prepared to go to these, only get to play a couple of songs myself and then have to listen to a load of poorly prepared and under-rehearsed performers. I prefer to go to informal music sessions where I can play all night.

I fear the bad is driving out the good.