When I got started, a number of "pros" took me under there wings, and told me what was expected in this buisness!! WOW I was given the chance to NOT make the beginners mistakes. When I look back on some of my first performance they WERE crap.. there was no staging, there no order to it, and most of all quality was embarassing! I was lucky to have a "mentor", perhaps if more of the Pros were willing to give encouragement, and help uplift the beginners, we would all raise the quality! An open Mic night is a pot luck dinner of music. We've all done them, and have all sat through some bad sets, and at times were the bad set :) Sometimes a good sencere chat with a musician is what is needed so they understand the AMOUNT of work that goes into a show. There will always be the ones who need to make a new career choice... but if we can help them ENJOY music anyways...why not. Put you musicans who have earned the audience's in your prime spots, explain to the newbies it's all about the crowds they draw and the biggest draws get the best and longest stage spot. We do this for the audiences. Put in in perpective for them, and help them attain there goals in the same way, the ones who continue to work on it will get there spots. Also if there is someone who is doing something SOOO bad, pull them aside and tactfully tell them you expect a certain standard for the paying customers, and they have to meet that standard. We all have to get used to the criticism, and the rejection since ther eis more of that thn there is "glory" :) It's good that you are thinking first and not doing what some have done, and just be harsh and mean! Good luck! Jill