Good points Leadfingers.
It is all about getting the balance right and being sensitive to the needs of others. It should be "inclusive" in the majority of situations but of course you will always find the minority that don't give a damn and are exclusive and often go out of their way to be almost hostile to the regulars/punters.

I have seen this many times when regulars are listening in and enthusistically clap at the end of a tune only to have the musicians blatantly CRINGING at the applause and therefore give out the message that they don't give a toss and would rather they just went away and didn't invade their space.
That is rude and ignorant. It is some kind of "We are proffesionals/prima donnas" sort of scenario and we belong here and you don't.
So long as this continues it gives the whole folk scene a bad name and bad news travells fast.