We run three singarounds a week with an 'extended family' of singers.

Amongst our supporters a consensus seems to have developed where we say about of sentence before the song. Some singers say virtually nothing, just start. I ask these singers next round: "would you like to tell us a bit about your song?"   

For a singaround this feels about right. Having only one sentence per round this seems to maintain a nice flow, though we don't dictate anything.

In a guest club situation I really get bored with artists who ramble on about stuff. I (use to) go to such clubs to hear songs - not a Jasper Carrott or Fred Wedlock comedy act (nothing against these two excellent musical comedians).

I stopped going to guest folk clubs in the 1980's and when I think back to that era my stomach turns when I remember those awful 2/3 songs-per-half-hour-set merchants.

On crediting your song?

All my songs are obscure except to regular supporters*. My repetoire is mainly own compositions, co-written songs and other songs I've collected written by unknown singers I've actually met and liked.

The difficulty I have is that club supporters often think that everything I sing is "one of mine".   So I either mention the writer or co-writer as part of the brief introduction, or shout something like "words by XYZ" as the applause dies down.

* I keep a few well known songs in the repetoire for Punters, special occasions or a bit of fun.


Ian Fyvie