Tom,

I'm with you on this. There is a need for "professionals" and "amateurs" and all of the other parts of the "industry" and "movement".

And when I say professionals, I mean just that, people who get paid to entertain.

I do also enjoy the endeavours of most "floorsingers", in my experience most people have good nights and bad nights (goes for pros as well)....and just because someone has a bad night and fluffs lyrics, chords or key it doesn't mean they always do. Though I have come across a couple of people who's efforts just jar with me......however I wholeheartedly defend their right to stand up and have a go in the right setting.

The research into the how the folk industry works sounds really interesting....anything we can do to help?

Paul