That's one of the main reasons I rarely go either, Ged. It's simply too late a start for us workin' stiffs, especially as my young'un doesn't know the meaning of "Please let daddy stay in bed. He had a very late night and has a bit of a hangover"...

I do think - especially as the number of performers and the "anyone can have a go" culture means a night of widely variable quality and content, that the MC might want to think of imposing strict time limits on individual performances to guard against grandstanding, limelight hogging and covers of Desolation Row. We do that at my writer's group (impose a strict time limit, that is, not sing songs) and it seems to work.