Interesting that Conrad equates a Paid Folk Musician with an immigrant working in McDonalds . I never realised we were so well appreciated !!

so you think folk musicians are superior?
Don't think so you know that might be considered bigoted and intolerant. Maybe some of those immigrant workers are musicians?
The trouble is that they are inexpensive yet folk musicians are
more expensive. I can better afford to go to mcdonalds than to the Irish place downtown and listen to music and have dinner.

No I am not saying that folk musicians do not deserve a decent wage. They do. That said, there need to be more of them and the marketing arrangements need to be re-considered and some industry practices changed. Or its going to get worse and that means mcdonalds will still be in business and folk venues will be gone.

Conrad