Richard,

I don't think the balance of opinion on this thread is saying that anyone should be discouraged from singing/playing....anything. In fact the contrary is true.

I do think that the opinion that context is important is receiving a fair degree of support though. i.e. there is a time and place for everyone to have a go but that isn't necessarily in front of a paying audience.

But clubs take different approaches...some do and some don't have floorsingers as part of the main event. I have no problem with this, different strokes etc. As a punter, you takes pays your money and takes your choice.

I personally attend a singaround club most weeks and run a performance club once a month (with a singaround in a separate room before and after the concert). These clubs are about 5 miles apart and 80 or 90% of the regulars from the singaround club attend as audience members (some have had support/ main guest slots) at the concert club. To quote the Snail..."this seems to work for us".

I don't think anyone feels sniped at or discouraged with this set up and lots of songs of different types are sung in lots of different ways by lots of different people.....and most of them regularly take the mickey out of my banjo (you'll be pleased to know)!!!!

If I have still misunderstood what you were saying, please use words of one syllable in the future:)

Paul