I'm not going to offer any opinions - too many people have done that already - merely some information.

I tried to stage a non-folk gig recently where I knew I could guarantee about 50 people, plus what we could get through advertising. Not all of these have decent incomes and the event would not be of such significance that they could afford huge ticket prices, as they might with a "name" band. Any surplus made would go to charity.

Most of the venues I approached commented on legislation and its impact on their prices:

Pub one, £40 for an upstairs room with stage and its own toilets, plus another £30 if we wanted the bar in the room open.

Pub two, £35 for a room, no additional facilities (bar, loos etc. in the main pub).

Village hall one, £130 for a large room and a small room (which could be a changing room), plus toilet and kitchen facilities. No bar or licence, the cheapest we could get a local pub to provide a bar was £60.

Village hall two, £220 for large room with stage, plus kitchen and loos. Bar and staff available at extra cost.

Arts Centre, £650 for hall with stage, dressing rooms, loos, kitchen and bar facilities all in.

Hotel, £1000 for large room with bar and loo facilities. Discounted rates on accommodation rooms for changing or overnight.