hey,

As a performer new to Mudcat who does trad material and also writes, I read this thread with much interest.

As far as I can tell the only proof is in the moment -- when a song is being delivered, if people buy it or not. When I hauled my arse into the downtown clubs of NYC and sang trad stuff, I expected to be tossed out, but wasn't -- not at all! My theory is, in general people like what's good . . .

It's a shame that clubs can be so cliqueish about who they book based on trad or singer-songwriter. I've also noticed this at folk conferences such as NERFA. . . a kind of competitiveness of who's cool, who's blah blah blah. This bores me -- it's social rather than music-related. My resolution is to gun the engines and do my thing without worrying about it too much, and try to exist peacefully in both worlds. All signs good so far.

erica