Here we go again..... let's all knock the pros!

Floor singers and singing clubs are great (I attend 4 Regularly) but will do little to bring more people into the folk fold.

I also run a concert club where we have booked supports and main guests. As well as attracting a fair proportion of the clientele from the singers clubs I attend we all so get audience who would have no interest in attending a singaround or litening to a succession of "amateur" singers on a guest night. (We have a singaround after the guests have done there slots for those who want to stay).

I can honestly say that none of the booked acts that we have put on appear to have passed the point where they are enjoying it and are only doing it for the money.

Paying people allows us to bring in very talented unknowns and knowns from other parts of the world who would otherwise not make it to our local clubs.

Why the constant jibing from some quarters suggesting that all "paid" performers are some how not as committed as the "amateurs"? That really is a load of twaddle!

I wonder if most of the knockers have tried and failed to make it as booked guests and that is why they hold such a grudge?

Surely it's just horses for courses?