.....all well and good.....but first you need to define "bad".

In a long and happy career as a folk club organiser there are many people who I gave a chance to who would not have passed muster in the "court of Mudcat". Some are now professional musicians, storytellers and solid supporters of folk music. Supposing I had taken a hit at their fragile confidence when they were starting out? The folk world would have been the poorer, I guess.

No-one wakes up in the morning and says, "Hey, I'm a useless singer, I think I'll go to the folk club and ask for a spot!"

Best wishes,

Peter