Diane, What I have been trying to do for over 40 years is to maintain the standard of performance within a folk club that you and Captain lament is no longer there in many cases. In attempting to do so I have made myself bloody unpopular with some who do not have the talent, the intelligence or the manners to perform professionally in front of an audience. In fact there is a rumour circulating at present regarding our club, Traditions at the Tiger, Long Eaton, that we don't allow anyone to sing from books; it's not strictly true but it is certainly something that we don't encourage.
When I set out in the folk clubs in 1966 artists fees were in the region of £15/£25 and door charges were around 2/6d of course things have changed and a solo performer can now command £200/£350 per night and naturally our door charges are set to cover this.
The only thing that I have heard as regards our club putting people off is that we are "too traditional" but looking at our title that is akin to saying that the BNP is too right wing.