Bryan - as I said - dumbing down.
Unless you have basic standards regarding the abilities of singers you are selling out both the singers and the audiences who take the trouble to turn up.
You don't have inexperienced singers turning up at your club - lucky old you; other clubs do and you are advocating no standards and dumbing down on their behalf - well done.
"We have no authority over the people who choose to pay on the door"
You do have the responsibility to provide them with an evening that is not going to fall below a certain standard - opting out of that one too. Howard said what needs to be said.
"We are part of the audience"
Nonsense; you are promoters and organisers of the music that is performed at your club; "Nowt to do wiv me guv", renaging on that responsibility doesn't hack it.
"as I believe that the ability to hold a tune, and remember and understand a text is a must." - "Hmmmm. Well. A whole new topic"
WHAT???? This is what it has been about from the beginning of our argument; I have repeated this suggestion at least a dozen times during the course of it.
How is believing you are 'worth it' the same as being 'worth it'?
"The ability to "perform" is probably more important."
Gibberish - doing handstands, the three card trick, what performance.... - you are a music club; singers and musicians of an acceptible standard (holding a tune and remembering the words are a minimum requirement) is what you are committed to present. Performance is part of it, sure, but the basic requirement should be the ability to sing or play an instrument to an acceptible level.
Please don't quote MacColl out of context out at me - his statement was based entirely on putting in the work beforehand in order that the singer and the audience can enjoy the songs, not just turning up without having tackled the basics - you are well aware of this.
You now appear to be accepting that you said that the basic standard was the desire to sing - on the ballad thread you denied having done so - it is you who should make up your mind.
Jim Carroll