I once got a really big SUSH and seriously glared at by a group of folk for apparently ordering my beer too loudly at the bar in the Rowing club at Durham during The Durham Folk Party weekend and they made me feel like an unwelcomed little moron who had invaded their private party.

The bartender didn't hear my order first time because I had tried to whisper it and he couldn't hear me over the chorus everyone was joining in with so I had to raise my voice a little.

This wasn't a concert, it was a very formal singaround and it was a free event, but I have also seen similar problems in local folk clubs and at paying concerts at folk festivals all over this land where the concert room had a bar.

All I am saying is that we need a little bit of give and take here boys and girls. We all know that the more people drink, the louder they get, so we should expect it and learn to tolerate it and take it in our stride and just handle it.

Failing that, you could always arrange concerts without bars that sell alcohol and join The Sons of Temperance and nurse a half pint of warm Cola through a three hour concert and then ask the venue owners if it had been worth it for them!

It's a difficult mix to get right!

Cheers

Chris