Very interesting thread- delighted to hear that the travel req is 5 miles elsewhere! Kind of bears out the point that it's more about participation theses days. A friend who was filmed years ago in the audience of a well-known club from the folk revival commented as much recently. He said that very often there were only a few floor singers whilst the attendances were large. Now, it's not uncommon for performers to make up 2/3 of the audience. I agree with the submission- it's different, but it can't be unhealthy. The folk tradition, surely, consists of passing songs on- and as Bob Copper put it, you don't want to be the one who breaks the chain. Part of this is the folk process of songs being weeded out - if new songs whether or not about teenage angst aren't sufficiently good, the singer'll know soon enough! And we all have to allow that not every song is a raging success. But here's where generosity, rather than hard-hearted commercialism kicks in- we're among friends and that's the essence of a good club. It includes, it supports, it shares. Finding a formula which ensures these is where this thread is usefully heading- good stuff!