Jim Carroll

"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.

So can I get this clear? You have frequently said that performers should do the necessary practice BEFORE they are allowed to perform in public. For instance, most recently -

and when they have put in that work and mastered the basics, then they should be recognised as singers and given places as a performers. (My emphasis this time.)

Are you actually saying that anyone new who turns up to a club and says they would like to do a floorspot should be allowed to do so? Excellent! As for offering assistance to the needy, we already have a lot to do without setting up special arrangements for a need that we do not perceive. Our workshops are generally run for twenty people. We do not have twenty people who can't sing in tune. We do not have twenty people who can't tune their instruments. We do not have twenty people who can't remember their words without a crib sheet.

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.

Now who's putting words in other people's mouths? You have explicitly stated that the policy we operate, that if someone wants to sing or play they should be given the opportunity to do so, constitutes "if not championing, then certainly promoting bad singing.". I am simply reporting that that is not our experience. I cannot be held responsible for what happens at other clubs.

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?

This is a meaningless question. Nobody has "poor singer" branded on their forehead. What you are actually asking is "What would you do if a number of people we didn't know turned up to the club asking for floor spots?". We would give them floor spots of course. What would you do? Refuse to put them on in case they were all poor singers? That would be a pity because it is equally likely that they would all be brilliant. What is most likely is that one would be so-so, one would be excellent and the rest would be adequate.

What would you do if a single singer who couldn't sing persistently turned up expecting to sing?

Give them their spot, confident in the knowledge that, by sharing a venue with all the other floor singers that they heard over the evening, varying from adequate to excellent, they would improve. I've seen it happen.

We do what we do and we find that it works. Come and see if you don't believe me.