Dave is alleged to play the organ quite a lot despite his age. Has anyone seen the evidence?

Avril may I say you seem not to have your roots in "folk" or "folk-style" music? I get the impression that you would really rather be signing soft-rock than interpreting material in the folk tradition (even if the material is not from the tradition), and that you do not really follow and understand the milieu you complain is rejecting you.

I have not seen you perform but you do need to tailor your material. "Traditional folk songs" written by say the Rolling Stones or the Who or Bad Company (I do all three) have a time and a place, and need adaptation to become appropriate. You wouldn't wisely have done them at the late Bob Copper's club, where friend of mine was once much sneered at for doing the Cuddy Wren with a non-traditional instrument namely the guitar.

Words are a pain. You need to have enough songs on board to establish "cred" without words before (with due apology) you can wisely use words even as a "prop".

Likewise socialising may be an impediment to acceptance. Other people do not want their performances ignored or interrupted either.

If you are not going to measure at least approximately up to the minimum necessary standard, then to be welcome to perform rather than merely tolerated (most clubs I think still tolerate pretty nearly anything) you need a persona to go with it. Back in the old days there was a chap (to save his blushes, we'll call him Eleheu, not his real name) who was a dreadful singer and guitarist, although he had (not at the very beginning) quite a nice birds' eye maple Washburn. He simply played up to the joshing, and everyone loved him for it. He was almost always welcome, but he did tend only to get short sets!

Indeed if my memory serves me he was a bit of a serial womaniser, so if he is still out there and above ground, perhpas the two of you are made for each other, particularly if you like older men (only trying to help)