Over the past 10 years we've modified to format of the open-mike I co-run. We started out being totally flexible, no stated limit ot lenths or number of songs. We treated everyone as they were wonderful, considerate people. We have no closing time - we could go for hours and hours if people wanted. A few years down the road, we had to change the format to limiting people to 3 songs. A few people wanted to go on and on - espically one struggling blues harpist. Between his 5 minute intros and the fact that he needed to sing every verse ever written, he filled 30 minutes and frankly bored us each time. A couple years later we had to switch to limiting performers to 15 minutes - because of one duo who did 12 minute songs. Every song about 12-step recovery or how wonderful their spiritual path with Unity church was.

I really think we've lost something because we had to do "punish" everyone in order to stop the abuse.