Alice, according to Mick Haywood, Whitby FC were told that they should just carry on singing as normal until things could hopefully be sorted out. However, they cannot now charge entrance, run a raffle or raise any money whatsoever. Consequently, guests have been cancelled.

Guest Chris, as a professional, I don't have a problem with PRS charging pubs, particularly where someone is getting paid to perform (I should say that we are not members of PRS, therefore get nothing from them, nor do we sing much that PRS could claim for as most of our material is traditional, although if we were members we could claim for our arrangements). Other people should not be able to make money out of composed songs or specific arrangements. However, I don't believe this should apply to sessions or floor singers who are not getting paid. I fear that there are a number of songs that would never have been taken up and made money for their authors unless they had first been sung in those circumstances. Having said that, if many other pub chains start going the way of Sam Smith's then, yes, many of us are going to have severe problems getting work. But I think it's unfair to blame PRS for that - they have, in fact, improved matters for their lowlier members through the Small Gigs Scheme, which means that all the money doesn't now go to the likes of Elton John or Paul McCartney. But if they increase the fees too much, they could indeed kill the goose that laid the golden egg, and none of us will benefit.

Barbara