I agree with Richards "one needs list" One thing that I feel should be explored is this idea that once you have set up a club the people will "come" sorry but I see very little marketing by folk clubs (ok I am sure there ARE clubs that market very well...so please share with us here how you do it!) outside of the obvious marketing at festivals and local folk mags. What DO folk clubs do to encourage no folkies into there clubs. I know from experience that if you go into ANY tourist information office you will not find any leaflets about the local folk clubs…… again sadly we talk to local people around us re folk clubs and people are surprised that there is one!
Having just thought about it here are a few questions I guess I need answers to before passing further comment
1        Do folk clubs want/encourage performers/singers only
2         Would folk clubs be happy to see for want of a better term "non folkie punters" coming to their clubs to listen/perform
3        How many clubs have leafleted there local area promoting the folk club ( by leafleting I mean 2-3k flyers delivered through local peoples letter boxes)
4        Do Folk clubs have mailing lists
5        Do folk clubs use social networking sites like Myspace to advertise there club and guests (acoustic clubs and open mics are all over myspace)
6        Why is there no association of folk clubs as there is the association of festival organisers is there a need for one?


One final point…..sound reinforcement (p.a.) Having spoken to a lot of fellow performers a good sound reinforcement system (note I do not use the phrase amplification as that is TOTALLY different and unfortunately too many people do not understand the difference) is actually beneficial as it allows a lot more subtly to be used and all the performers I have talked to appreciate a GOOD sound reinforcement system.

I hope I have not been to "negative" and I also hope that people understand that I am trying to understand and help if I can.

Thanks

Tony