We're lucky enough at my local singaround to be on quite a few people's "things to do on a Tuesday" list, as well as having a healthy core of enthusiastic regulars. Occasionally, many of our "irregular" visitors come down on the same night and we have upwards of thirty performers. To me (the emcee)it feels like mayhem but we've never yet had to send someone away without having sung at least two songs, and people seem to really enjoy these "chaotic" evenings. What we've done to accomodate everyone is start earlier and finish later.

On quieter evenings, we still keep it fairly ramshackle. The emphasis is always on having fun and it's great that people come down to listen as well as play so everyone has a fair hearing.

The idea of having a spillover room is interesting but I'm not too enthusiastic in the idea of splitting into stars & plebs. I love it when someone who doesn't sing much, gets up and gives it a bash, and I believe that they deserve as much, if not more, applause than the experienced performers. I've never forgotten that pit of the stomach feeling of singing in public for the first time!