I can't see why there's such hostility to the idea of singers getting together to sing, with no money changing hands. Musicians do this at pub sessions all the time, often with some singing too, and no one berates them for not booking paid guests.

In most pub sessions, there is an optimum number of (maybe) somewhere between 7 and 14, and this will tend to find its own level, being controlled by the space available and the wishes of the musicians/singers. Once a session becomes too crowded and over-subscribed, someone may set up another one- say for Irish music, or strictly-no-singers, or singers-only.

Sure, you could do it in your living room, but the bar arrangements, parking etc could become complicated. Many people wouldn't want to advertise their living room as a venue for an open session, and other members of the household might find it a bit of an intrusion. Also, there's then no opportunity for the casual pub-goers and passers-by to have a listen-in as informal audience members.

Open, free sessions/singarounds and concert-style clubs with paid guests are simply two different ways of presenting and enjoying folk music. I like both and go to both. Some people only like one or the other - I think that's their loss, but they have a perfect right to pick the setting that they enjoy. Surely there's room for both these formats, and more besides?

Marje