Forty-three years ago Rolf Cahn, one of the most versatile folk singers and guitarists I have ever met told me the following:—

"I never think about competition. I once had a chance to hang out with the Mercedes team during the thousand mile Mexican Road Race. There were Jaguars, Porsches, Ferraris, Allards, Cunninghams, they were all there. But during the strategy meetings, none of the other cars were ever mentioned. All the Mercedes team talked about was getting the Mercedes from point A to point B as fast and as safely as possible. So I don't waste my time and energy worrying about competition. I just try do the best that I can do."

If I couldn't sing at the local pubs or clubs or if I found trying to sing there unpleasant or distasteful for whatever reason, I would sing wherever I could. I'd put a number of different programs together and offer them to schools, retirement homes, and organizations that might want entertainment at their meetings or special events. I'd also make myself available to do benefits and sing for charities. I'd look for any place where there was a potential audience. I would build my own following.

Folk Mafia? No, I don't think so. That implies some kind of conspiracy. But there are people out there who try to maintain a nervous grip on whatever they have and regard anyone new as a threat. The problem with one singer or group singing at the same place all the time is the matter of overexposure. They can get stale after awhile. If you really want to sing there, be patient. But in the meantime, don't just sit on your hands.

Don Firth