Bryan:
I wrote some time ago on this thread:
"If they could hold a tune and make sense of the song they would be included fully in the proceedings - if they couldn't, they weren't, simple as that.
If the latter was the case one of us would approach whoever it was, sound them out and, if they showed any interest, they would be offered assistance, either on an individual basis or through the numerous workshops I have been involved in.
If they turned down the offer of help and continued to turn up, my own inclination would be not to invite them to sing again right away, but wait a few weeks and let them try again (and so ad infinitum, until they either showed progress or stopped asking)."
Now mystery about how you find how to find out whether a newcomer can sing - unless you choose to make it one for the sake of avoiding the issue.
I'm afraid your attitude exudes a smugness - "doesn't effect our club so it doesn't exist"; not my nor other people's experience I'm afraid.
It is perfectly feasible that a number of poor singers descend on a club - seen it happen. I ask again - what would you do if it happened to yours? What would you do if a single singer who couldn't sing persistently turned up expecting to sing?
Jim Carroll