I agree that it is a low door charge, Diane. I am fighting a generaly loosing battle to drag us into the 21st century, while still trying to satisy the needs of our existing audience. It is difficult which is why I am asking the questions I have and why I get a little narked with the unhelpful attitude of some posters. I do try my best to ensure that the artist is looked after and if at all possible we will try to book someone while they are on the way to or from a 'proper' gig. It is what we did with Hank Weddell and Roy Barron a couple of weeks back and what we hope to do with a very famous Mudcat member in a few weeks:-)

To be honest it is probably even worse than you think - Our room is so small we can only comfortably get 40 people in so even at £6... Well, you can do the maths. It does make it a good intimate night though and I can't recal an evening where the artist booked has not enjoyed it at least! I must say that we have had to subsidise certain nights as it would be too embarasing to offer the act what we have actualy taken:-(

I would be sad to see the concept of an intimate venue, where people can see good acts at a reasonable cost, go down the drain. Maybe that is why we need to accept that we will not get Waterson Carthy every week but every now and again we can build up the funds enough to do something special for both the audience and the artist. I realy don't know what to do for the best at times but I do hope that doing what we do is better than doing nothing at all.

Out of interest we also run a annual festival where, through various devious means, we CAN pay the 'going rate'. On that day we get at least 2 'nationals' who will not only perform in the concert venue but will appear in the public bar all day singaround - Hence doing something to 'spread the word' as well:-)

A little tale I have just remembered. My cousins daughter was visiting from the US some years back. She was about 20 years old, if I remember rightly, with no concept of folk music or the UK 'scene'. As part of her visit we took her to the folk club. On leaving we obviously solicited her opinion.

"It was realy good." Was her reply. Adding, with a usual youngsters way of telling it as it is, "It's great to see somewhere where white middle-aged men can get together to enjoy themselves." I think she had the right of it but just because it is not a concert does not make it wrong does it? Unless we pretended to be something else of course, which I suspect is a major point of contention. I have never pretended to anything other than what we are. Surely there is space for all of us:-)

Cheers

Dave