Yes of course there are exceptions to everything.

Ebbbie I can point out at least twenty folk festivals here that the video is modeled after exactly.

You seem to be doing a great job.

IMHO it is also important to keep concerts within festivals small.

Keep the size of a stage capacity to 20- -30 when that fills up open another stage then another then another easy enough.

have the performers play a few sets so that when stages are full folks can catch them later at another.

Another problem for me is the dominance of entertainment over transmission. Steps can be taken- printed song sheets, etc....that actually plug the visitor into the tradition extending the experience greatly.

Small groups for celtic music and english traditional are more appropriate the personal qualities of the experience can be appreciated giving it all more meaning.

Good to hear of the membership subscription strategy. We need to get as many people in the doors of a festival without the filter caused by the admission fee. Food prices also must be attractive. If all the musicians and volunteers got together food could be cooked by them and offered at cost. This leaves money in the pockets of visitors for cds and other wares benefiting the musicians directly.

If one must have an admission fee one must try to treat the visitor to a special vending experience. Wares should be offered at prices lower than outside thus making the event even more attractive. More often the prices are higher because of high vendor fees combined with fish in the barrel profit taking.

Conrad