"come to see Fairport Convention at £15 a ticket? "

Fairport are unlikely to appear at a small local club so in their case we are probably talking about a major venue. S.O.H have 'done' the Albert Hall and so have Waterson Carthy. The is not going to be opportunity for Floor Spots in places such as I cite.

We can however get major players on the Club/Festival circuits (Dave & Anni and the like) who I have seen enjoy hearing a spot from the floor and they have shown appreciation of the attempt.

Personally if I were MC on a night when the Guest had the status I am now thinking of I might be a bit circumspect as to who I offered a spot to. On the plus side I have found that this sort of guest brings in a lot of our good local singers so there is the chance to introduce them with something like " Lets have song/tune (whatever) from ...... who we don't see here as regularly as we would like" or some such phrase. This seems to avoid ruffled feathers from the less expert/experienced or weaker people who might be in.

I suppose it all comes from knowing your guest artist(s) and your audience.

Knowing how you would like an evening to run and trying to organize it thus is the rule of thumb I try to use when it is my turn to MC.

Dave