Much more important than the provision of food and so on, welcome as that would be, is the attitude of the organisers and the regulars. When I was starting out I was fortunate to come across some very welcoming people in the singarounds and sessions I went to which has encouraged me to carry on. If I had not met that I might well have given up.

One thing I remember in particular was one overhearing a regular at one venue I had been going to saying to one of the others during the beer break, that she liked my voice and enjoyed my singing. For someone who had been told for over 30 years that he couldn't sing, that was a real boost.