But the most important thing is the passion, not the need for remuneration.

It seems very sad that some who know much are so set on excluding the mass of us who are not up to their standards. The real heroes of folk music (I think especially of Martin Carthy) as far as I know always encourage, and never dismiss.

And of course Mr Carthy, good as he is, does it just for 'passion' and never asks for remuneration. Clubs should of course just do it for the passion as well. Charge the price of a pint. Pay the artists peanuts. After all, it's only folk music isn't it. We shouldn't pay real money. Just do it for the passion.

Listen, no-one is about excluding anyone as far as I can see. Everyone bar none has the the right to warble, twang or mis-beat their drum to their hearts content. It's fine on a singers night as long as people know what to expect. But do you think that even St Martin would be happy if his support act on a 1000 seat concert was me? Tell you what - he may be the first time, but when only 500 people turn up next time he wouldn't be. When there were only 100 the next. When he couldn't get gigs at all...

Sorry but we can't, on the one hand, expect professional performances from the top artists and then, on the other, say money doesn't come into it. And poor performers should stick to the venues where they are welcome and where the audience is, like me, easy to please.

Cheers

Dave.