I have started music in two pubs and in each case there has been a time when we battled with the locals to some extent or another but it's ok now after 5½ years though they still find us weird. There is a very loud mouthed girl/woman who comes in late on a music evening and just drowns out everything with a talking voice that could strip paint off cars. But even her is starting to show a little interest (bewilderment?) as to what we get from it and occasionally wanders down the pub and listens quizzically.

But the landlord is very much on our side. It's a quiet pub in the middle of nowhere. Does no food. Has perhaps half a dozen people in on a normal night. On a wednesday there are probably 30+ people there every week (even got up to 50 one week) with 90% there for the music. And gradually we grow. The locals probably avoid the night we are in though the fact is now busy on a Wednesday mean that more people come because there is something on - which occasionally makes it a bit noisy later.

We are at least tolerated and some things are liked. And occasionally something special happens and something gets sung or played that's good and it all goes quiet...