I am a committee member and bookings officer of a folk club and some time MC.

On Monday we had the delight to hear Clive Gregson.

Regrettably I had the situation where 2 people had traveled over 2 1/2 hours each to support our booked guest.

These visitors had asked for floor spots only. Having investigated fully I find that both visitors had issued gig notices on their My Space blogg spots, one traveling from Bournemouth to Chesham and one from Stoke on Trent. The club has a policy of no support acts.

No doubt these visitors' blogg spots will soon include the clubs name as a past booking.

This situation left me with an embarrassing situation, the person who had requested a spot first finished the second half the last booked in finished the second half.

I turned away local singers who support the club = pissed of regulars

I badly upset of one of the visitors, who by my own admission I was rude to, but I tend to respond as I am treated.

Is this a new trend or have other people had the same experience.

I am in sales and I don't mind a pitch, but working on the Cuckoo Principle is for me a step to far. What is even more exasperating is that as a club we regularly book emerging artistes to do a feature night and we have established artistes who got their first gigs on the folk circuit with us this way.

Please play the game. If you want a gig contact folk club organisers, send a CD (not everyone has the internet), come on a singers night, people will afford a decent spot if you can show you have made an effort, but please do not create bogus support gigs.

Do it the right way and "if you are any good" you will get a real gig.