leeneia - is right on.

And I don't have a moment's worry about choosing music to perform that I know the audience (the market) wants to hear and what I want to play. I have been doing this a long time. I KNOW I cannot "sell" a song that I don't believe in - so it is pointless for me to play stuff I think the market demands and I don't love.

A music performance or a show is a two way communication. If I am not reaching the audience with the songs and the messages I want to deliver, then I am failing.

I love folk music. I play folk-style. When I plan a show or a performance, I am planning a conversation, so-to-speak. I have all kinds of musical ideas that I enjoy playing at any given moment ... so my selection for material becomes, what is the set of ideas, that I want to get across? What are the expectations of the show? I always consider what my song list will be ... and I do plan the "dynamics" of the show, the pacing ... because I've learned that that is an important factor in the success of the communication. But no set list ever survives a full set. Even when I am playing with my band ... I usually modify the set based upon what's happening with the "conversation."

I play a lot of modern and original music in my shows. And I play a lot of old folk music too. I don't see much difference.