when I started to go to folk club as a floor singer,if you were not competent you were not guaranteed to be given a spot the next week,if it was clear that you had potential,you were encouraged and sometimes suggestions as to how you could improve were made.
this was about 1969, 1970,therewere lots of good floorsingers so competetion proved a healthy incentive to self improvement.
Two clubs I would particuarly like to thank were Dartford andPete Hicks[Farningham,a club where I later graduated to do a guest spot]