I define a 'f*lk club' as somewhere that the public pays to get into, at whatever venue.

This seems an inadequate definition to me.

I go to concerts at the Sage in Gateshead, and that is most definitely not a folk club. I also go to their weekly folk music classes and to their folk session for the over 50's. While some of the activities at these latter two have some of the attributes of a folk club and I pay for both of them, neither can be described as a folk club. They are primarily about learning - Oh! and enjoying yourself while doing it.

I think a folk club is somewhere that people go to meet others who share their interest in the music and to participate.

I recently picked up a publication called "Folk Roundabout" at a club I go to regularly. This is primarily a roundup of clubs in North East England and Cumbria. Excepting the dance clubs (which are also listed), the vast majority of these seem to have a format of a regular singaround/singers & musicians night with periodic guest nights. Most, but not all, levy a small charge - presumably to cover the costs of running the club - with a larger charge on guest nights. The main ones that don't charge are sessions and while these have many of the attributes of a folk club, they do not normally seem to be considered so.

The important feature, it seems to me, is that these clubs rely on people who come along regularly to sing or play and who do so not for a fee but because they enjoy doing it and wish to share that enjoyment with others. The music making is purely amateur and the "audience" is simply fellow club members. In such circumstances, surely it is unreasonable to expect professional standards and it is the nature of things that there will be some "dummies" (for want of a better term).

What I think is reasonable to expect is that those who do sing or play do their best on the night and have done at least some practice beforehand. The practice may have been a long time beforehand if it a song they have long known and sing at least reasonably frequently. If it is a new song or tune, then the practice obviously needs to be recent. Even so, things can go wrong on the night as I am sure we have all found out at some time or other :-)

In such circumstances, I also don't see anything wrong in having a copy of the words and/or music handy as an aide memoir. It is possible to give a creditable performance without knowing every word of a song providing you have practiced and can sing without having to look at the words all the time. Some people do genuinely seem have difficulty remembering words but that does not necessarily make them poor performers.

I think what really matters is that you do your best and that you have a genuine desire to improve.

Guest nights are a different matter. There the performers are being paid to entertain and it is only reasonable to expect professional standards.