Horses for courses, isn't it? If we're playing in an open acoustic session - in a pub bar - and the punters in the bar want to talk, that's up to them. If they want to listen, jolly good! One thing I do know: there's nothing like a girl singing a song in a quiet voice to get the background noise down to nothing. Good tip, isn't it? Drop the volume to get the attention.

However, in a folk club, say in a room set aside for the occasion, then audience quiet and respect is a sine qua non. As for those high and mighty performers who are up their own arses, I usually find there's someone around to show them up or make them look small. And if they behave like that and then want a booking, then it's always a pleasure to tell 'em to go and f--- themselves!