Janie, yes I am in the UK. Here there are two typical formats. One is the "floorspot", where a performer is given two or three songs, up in front of the audience (who will usually have paid to get in). Often there are a number of floorspots from different singers before the main guest comes on.

The other is the "singaround", which is less formal, but not totally informal. In this setup singers take it in turn, usually going round the room and taking one song each at a time. Usually there is not a main guest.

In both cases these are usually held in pubs, not in private houses which I gather is more common in the US. In the case of singarounds in particular, these may be held in an open bar where they can be heard by other customers (the other type of club is usually in a separate function room where entry can be controlled).

In both formats the songs sung may or may not be intended for joining in. Usually, the audience would be expected to join in only with the chorus, and not with the verses unless invited (indeed, this would usually be disapproved of since the singer may be doing a different version of the song). However etiquette does vary from club to club.

You will therefore understand that these are far more in the nature of individual performances than the type of gathering you are perhaps familiar with.

There is of course a place for venues where people can just sing without feeling under pressure, and where novice singers can gain experience. However in my view these should be private gatherings or workshops, or at least confined to situations such as festivals where passers-by are folkies, rather than a public bar where it will be heard by the general public. Folk music has enough of an image problem, and where events are accessible by the general public some degree of quality control may be appropriate.

Genie said in a post yesterday that he would rather hear a good singer using a book than a mediocre singer without one who forgot the words. Well, given that choice, so would I. However, in my experience it is rare to find a good singer who needs a book. Most singers who rely on books are unconfident singers, but having the words to hand doesn't make them any more confident or competent - instead of forgetting the words they are just as likely to lose their place on the page.

Encouraging people to memorise songs is not just about presentation. The work involved in doing this helps to improve everything about your singing