You must have been to some pretty dire singers nights if you think of them as "putting up with others". Good ones not only give you the opportunity to hear unusual songs and some amazing singers but also the opportunity to sing harmonies as the mood takes you with others to produce a sound that can sweep you off your feet. Sure there will be the odd singer, or song that you could do without - but that's the time to go to the bar etc. Having said that some clubs do seem to have a problem getting enough singers to attend or make it so over formal that it effectively kills the atmosphere. Jude