"Those who want to be everybody`s darling will quickly end as everybody`s fool" (F.J. Strauß)

M.Ted: In your last post you "accused" me of giving unwanted advice - in the next paragraph you complain that many songwriters offer more than they get back - raises the question if anyone asked them to write songs in the first place? An attitude like "I am born as a great artist and you people in the audience are just to stupid to recognize it" is what really puts people of from singer/songwriters (and other artists as well).

If you don`t care for the audience, don`t expect the audience to care for you.

I started this thread as someone who - being often a part of the audience in folk-oriented venues - finds it a pity when someone who writes his own songs doesn`t get the recognition he deserves. Just for the record, I am no singer to speak of, but play a little harmonica and tenor banjo (mostly at home, sometimes with friends or at a beginner-friendly session): I think that makes me an educated part of the audience.

This is an open discussion forum, so I didn`t expect that everybody would agree with me or would find everything useful what I wrote. Pity those people whose friendships can`t stand dissenting opinions. And I am quite happy that we are covering different aspects as well as getting opinions from experienced performers like Jerry and Art or Radio people like Ron as well as people who are into music just for the love of it.

Best wishes
Ernest