This is a very interesting thread.

As a singer who sings all kinds of stuff (mostly folk, but I have been known to wander into other genres as well) I am finding it hard to get booked into places because I don't write my own material. Since I am classified as "folk" and I don't write, it is automatically assumed that I must be a traditional singer. Then folks are surprised when half of my set is comprised of composed songs from the last 30 years or so.

I hasd an interesting experience on my last tour: I had many people from the audiences telling me that they were so glad that I wasn't a singer/songwriter. Yet, I have many singer/songwriter friends who say that term can be poison for them as well. It's all about labels, I suppose.

Now, I just tell people I am a singer of good songs and let them figure it out.

And Ron Olesko: get back to work! :-)

Debra Cowan