Dear Auntie Marge;
Advice please - especially from those who insist that no standards are required.
We attended a singers club last night; started at 10pm - hadn't finished at 2am, when we left. A room of around 100 people.
A nationally-known (or at least county-wide) guest who was undoubtedly good.
The compare (a Comhaltas organiser) opened proceedings with 2 songs from the guest, then began selecting his way round the room. After about 12 songs, 2 more from the guest, then procedure repeated for the rest of the evening - as far as we saw it.
Every singer in the room (somewhere between 30-40) got an equal amount of songs (probably ended up 2 each) apart from the guest, who had sung about 8 by the time we left.
A handful of the singers were good, some were so-so, most, while appearing to be enthusiastic, were poor and a few were diabolical.
Everybody in the room appeared to be enjoying themselves and no standards were applied to impede that enjoyment.
Questions.
1 Is this what those who are suggesting that no standards are necessary are advocating (everybody who sang undoubtedly wanted to)?
2 Should we go back next month?
3 Would you go back next month?
4 Is this the best way to advance the music?

Confused, Munster
(Jim Carroll)