Ye gods! Can you BLAME the artist for reacting that way?

Reading the above messages reminds me why we ditched the raffle at Twickfolk. It was one of the best things we've ever done. We haven't done one for several years now....and the strange thing is we didn't announce we were going to stop running one....and no-one seemed to notice (certainly no-one complained).

Raffles were clearly alienating and bemusing any newcomers who weren't au fait with this quaint aspect of folk club tradition. They were also becoming tiresome and a complete joke with our regulars and also taking up much too much time (eg waiting while someone trawls round all the bars and toilets asking if anyone's got 37 on the blue). In most cases people had zero interest in the prizes so in effect it had become nothing more than a voluntary extra donation/tax to the door charge. Of course this isn't necessary if a realistic charge is applied in the first place.

As a result no-one now feels compelled to engage in a time-wasting charade (or is in any danger of being called a miserable sod if they choose not to)....and you get an extra two or three songs per night.

A decent result all round.