We have a strong singaround at The Wolf Folk Club in Norfolk. We normally have about 30 to perform with an audience of 40 or 50. The main thrust is encouragement to sing or play. We have some performing at professional level and some utter beginners. They do their bit for the community on a totally equal basis.

My philosophy is summed up in this which I wrote recently to nervous but very capable melodeon player.

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Once upon a time, not so long ago people played and sang for their families, their friends and their communities. They had a sense of worth and self-esteem and a place in the community because their services were in demand and appreciated. Then came the radio and the recording industries. A double edged sword. It did as much damage as it did good. It brought us the best from all over the world, entertaining us, delighting us and teaching us something new. There arose from it a spectre which I call "Broadcast Quality" and that spectre has haunted everyone who has ever been tempted to perform in public. It created a new standard by which every performer would feel they would be measured. A standard so high that few could possibly attain it. People were now ashamed of their nakedness, disincentivised to perform or even to enjoy listening to Auntie Mabel and Uncle George doing their music hall party pieces like they used to. Ordinary people were out of a job. It is easier to switch on the telly or the radio or play a CD than to entertain ourselves and we don't have to suffer a second class performance. No longer do we need to struggle to learn to play an instrument or to memorise tunes or the words to a song. Commerce doesn't recommend it either. They are very happy to take over the menial tasks of entertaining you, all you have to do is pay, it's so easy, why bother. "Fast Music" and "Take Away" music was invented before "Fast food". Nobody has any reason to want to provide their own entertainment ever again.

There are some other benefits to making music and self entertainment which never get talked about and which the worlds of commercial entertainment studiously avoid drawing our attention to. For instance, the importance of "Community" and getting together with other people. Sharing in endeavours. Sharing in pleasure and experience, Appreciating the richness of human variety and human creativity. Appreciation of the human story and the heroism of difficulties overcome. For instance, ****** who walks about with two sticks and comes every Wolf Folk Club meeting to play his guitar even though he has MS. He used to be a really good player until MS slowly and insidiously began robbing him of his capabilities. Everyone in the room appreciates his playing and singing but it is the absolute antithesis of "Broadcast Quality". So you see BQ isn't everything. Making mistakes and being nervous and struggling to achieve, are all part of the human story and the folk club is a place where the human story is told. It is a very interesting and engaging story. I like to create an environment where ordinary people can do their thing and be appreciated like they used to before radios were invented. Broadcast Quality is the enemy of that aspiration so I do not allow it to come in through the door.

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We have guests on a different night to the singaround and don't mix the two.