But I will never accept that someone who wishes to sing or play should have to jump through hoops, be 'judged' as good enough, or gain some sort of unofficial NVQ in Folk singing, before they are 'permitted' to perform by some kind of self-elected Folk-Simon-Cowells. Which is where some contributors would appear to want folk clubs to go. That route is the road to disaster.

I don't know of anyone who is suggesting NVQ's and so on. Anyone who wants to sing and play should be allowed to do so. What people are suggesting is that to perform in front of a paying or indeed a listening public then you need to be able to play your instrument or sing with some skill and confidence or both. I am sorry you don't feel you can agree with that.

We would not accept a melodeon player who could only play a few notes, forgot the tune, and played badly - and we don't have to because melodeon (read fiddle or most other instruments) don't feel they have to practice in front of the paying public.(Bodhran players excepted!)

When they are learning they go to sessions and workshops where they are often well-supported, and practice that way. The young people I see in sessions at festivals did not arrive fully formed, they went to summer schools and sessions, practiced and learnt their instrument to a level. Gradually as they do more practice and as they get more competent the level gets higher. Oh that singers did the same.

For some reason we accept poor singers and you are happy to do so. I don't see why we should and whilst you believe anyone should be allowed to play and sing in front of the paying public then you are not respecting the music or the audience.

Now I would argue that along with the amplification issue, the problem with pubs and licensees and so on - one of the reasons that the number of folk clubs is a patch on what it was (at the same time as an expansion in folk music) is precisely that many did allow "anyone" to perform - that there were no standards just as you seem to want and that consequently people - such as myself and Jim Carroll from this thread, stopped going. That was the road to disaster and so it has proven as the number of folk clubs has shrunk whilst folk music has become more and more popular. There may be little knots of people performing to themselves and good luck to them wherever they may be - but IMHO they do little for the music or for its development.

Nostalgic Note

When I was going to Harry's Club at the Clarendon (err...err.....early 60's!!) the residents were Harry and Lesley, Terry Whelan, Terry Griffiths,(still one of the best singers I have ever heard), Tom Gilfellon who was at college in Manchester and Dave Hillery.