"depend on you attracting sufficient numbers to make it viable."
I agree, and attracting and keeping them depends on presenting evenings that do not fall below a certain standard, not necessarily particularly high, but at least competent - certainly not embarrassing, as some I have attended, have been.
In my opinion, the success of any club depends on local participation, not jut as bums on seats, but as singers and organisers - you can stay at home and watch the 'professionals' on tele.
The 'grass-roots' nature of the folk scene is what made it unique.
Jim Carroll