My impression is that the Snail is joking.

But despite the Monster "clarifying" his views, I still don't know what it is he does and doesn't want. Indeed I'm even less clear. Rock venues it's too dark to see the floor, which is probably good as you don't want to see what you're walking in, the beer is usually sour (Tap and Tin, Chatham, excluded) rip off prices to get in and rip off prices again to get into the music part, crap sound systems (possibly the worst I've heard in my life in the prestigious Rock City in Nottingham's metal room) urinals where you paddle in piddle, no seats, those that have seats the seats sticky with spilled beer and carved up with holes in, hell most folk venues are utopian in comparison, and you often (well, sometimes) get sandwiches too! So what's the "dreary" bit?

Many people like some amateur support slots (I certainly do) - and they are the potential crossover point to go semipro, so what's wrong with them?

Or is it something else? You certainly don't like something, and you never tire of saying how crap everything is.

C'mon, how can the pros who are that bit better than the rest make a fair living playing folk or nearly folk music? The people you say you want and expect to see all seem to be playing folk clubs, so that can't be the problem can it?