Alan, we had this conversation outside 'The Cause' late on Sunday night and I'm afraid that my opinion hasn't changed. Pearl and I have been running the Folk Clubs on Friday and Saturday nights at Chippers for a long time and we have always tried to be scrupulously fair about the sessions. I think that I have only been allowed to perform in Pearl's club twice over the years and that was only to help her out of a spot and vice versa, Pearl has rarely done anything in 'my' club, for all that we are both there well before the event starts (!).
As for one singer, one song round the room, yes, we could do that but then it would be a singaround and not a Folk Club and I think that there will always be a need for an event that allows ten minutes or so per spot for a performer to expound or expand into rather than the hustle of a sing. I don't think that Chippers is any different from any other Festival in that the performers list for the Folk Club is always going to be longer than the time allotted (ask Bob and Gill - they run the Folk Clubs at Towersey!) and without Dr Who nothing will change that! On both Friday and Saturday nights, the Singers List was over full before the evening started.
I understand the 'hunger' to perform but there should also be an understanding amongst all would be performers at the Folk Club that there is a very good chance that you won't get on so you might as well relax into it and enjoy the diversity of those who do and (of course) the Guests.
I think Pearl would join me in saying that we both immensely enjoyed the events that we ran over the weekend (at least I managed to get everybody on in the Sings this year!) and would like to thank all those who attended and added to the atmosphere of all the sessions - performers or not...