There seems to be such a variety of formats - clubs, sessions, singarounds, concerts; every time a thread of this nature crops up it seems as if there is a collision of worlds!

I go to a few weekly clubs (and they are clubs) where they have a "name" guest maybe once a month, with singers nights otherwise. In my experience there is never a question of the regulars getting preference, whether it's a guest or singers' night - the format (except for spotlight nights) is one song each, and new visitors always get a turn, or two, even if we don't get round the room once/twice in the course of the evening. Basic courtesy towards visitors, I'd say. And everyone pays on the door, every week, whether or not they perform.

We have had people come in for the first time and do their song/tune
then pack up as soon as the next person starts, leaving while that person is actually performing. They are in the room long enough to observe the general proprieties practised by the gathering, but choose to ignore them.

Too much is made of the occasional lack of expertise. I regularly make a 70 mile round trip to Swindon Folksingers Club (which will celebrate 50 years in January 2010) because I think it is a great club for the very reason that it has a community of members of all ages, experience, ability, levels of self-confidence etc. Above all it's a happy and welcoming club (as I'm sure you'll agree, Dick). I've never had a bad night there, and I don't see that my paying at the door gives me the right to be intolerant of anyone who chooses to perform.

Henry