Raffles started off as a way of getting round licensing laws at venues that lacked a permit for alcohol sales. And we are all aware of how the "private club" ploy of evading public entertainment licensing was counterproductive to the image of trad music in England.

Sure, raffles make some extra dosh because punters are too embarrassed NOT to buy a ticket when publicly harassed by someone waving a roll of tickets, but they are, thankfully, illegal in the US unless the proceeds are for charity.

Door prices should be set at an economic rate to cover all costs, including paying a guest artist the rate for the job. This, in turn, would surely encourage more punters to attend. Given the ridiculously low ticket cost it's little wonder the vast majority of the population assume that the "entertainment" thus provided at "f*lk clubs" must be rubbish.