Captain - re the matter of floorsingers asking guest performers for comment on performance skills/technique etc, I think the answer to whether it is a good idea or not may rather depend on honesty of the guest. There is sometimes a tendency to say nice things to people in those situations because its easier than being critical in a club situation. Re workshops, whether organised by club or other organisation, I reckon that they are GOOD THINGS (using Sellars and Yeatman's capital letter technique!) Lewes Arms club runs a very good series of workshops on all topics throughout the year ... I've been to several useful ones there - harmony ones with Coope Boyes and Simpson and Craig Morgan and Robson, (purely for enjoyment and out of interest, as I'm never 100% sure that harmony workshops actually achieve all that much, other than allowing people the opportunity for a sing - which is great), and one on ballads (of much more interest to me). But in the past I've been to some which deal with warm up techniques, approaches to song etc. I think that they are really a kicking off point, and a means to prod the individual singer into thinking about what they're doing.

The best singing workshops I've been to, though, were organised by Folk South West under the banner of "In the Tradition" at their Easter School in Bath - effectively run on the master class principle, with individuals singing in front of tutor and fellow classmates, in non-intimidating circumstances, with participants ranging from those who had never sung in public at all, to those who were actually very experienced. Run over a period of 4 days, the tutors (who on the courses I went on included Shirley Collins, Nancy Kerr, John Kirkpatrick and Eddie Upton)and fellow students are very supportive... and on each occasion by the end of the four days everybody had gained in confidence, been given food for thought, and had the chance to sing in performance in front of fellow students and staff if they wanted to. (I can think of one fellow student on that first course in 2001 who was terrified of singing in front of anyone else when she started, by the end of the four days had picked up courage, and sang in the student performance in the theatre, and four years later was singing out at local clubs... it had made a difference). Attending that workshop ended up with my performing with a fellow student at the end of the course, and as a result of our collaboration, eventually led to my first and second paid gigs, producing a couple of shows with him, something that I doubt would have happened if I had not attended the course.... so yes, I reckon workshops can be a good thing, and would recommend them anytime.