Well you've been to a different Whitby to me.
But there are several depending if you sing, play, dance, listen (or drink).
For me Whitby offers loads of opportunity for people who want to DO things, either to learn something new or to polish an existing skill in the company of others who are interested.
So we can dance with more expert dancers than the average club member. Then go to a beginners tune session. And rest for a while in a concert listening to an established artist or one of the up-and-coming Newcastle undergrads.