I am lucky to have never experienced people being nasty to singers. I agree that if a person purports to be a professional singer and charges accordingly, that it is OK to criticise and regret paying to hear them. What I love about folk singarounds is the mix of styles and levels and the extraordinary warmth and support. No folkie was born a brilliant performer.

At a singalong at a recent festival in Australia a young woman sang her version of Song for Ireland almost entirely off-key but her delivery and enthusiasm made the audience applaud wildly. I really think she will get more out of that experience than from a dissertation on her failings and ways to remain in tune.