The big problem in this discussion is that you do not realize that I am calling for complete paradigm change.

-Yes in early times there were lots of festivals. Markets, saint's days, loads and loads of they all had musicians.Church events, state events. Small venues not huge ones scattered here and there.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS MODEL JUST BREAK UP THE FESTIVAL INTO MANY SMALL STAGES (30 OR SO SEATS) AND DO IT CORRECTLY
YOU CAN STILL ACCOMMODATE THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE BUT IN A WAY THAT IS PROTECTIVE OF THE TRADITIONS AND REAL. THE ONLY REASON THAT FESTIVALS HAVE BIG STAGES IS BECAUSE THEY FORCE MORE PEOPLE IN TO MAKE MORE MONEY FOR LESS TIME PLAYING MUSIC.

-When a community gets together to do an event everyone can pitch in. You know what that means? Each brings to the event the materials and skills that they have readily available.

THERE IS NO REASON THAT EVENTS CAN NOT BE PUT TOGETHER IN THIS WAY. QUITE POSSIBLE. IT MEANS THERE ARE NO EXPENSES!

-The biggest problem with the folk music world is that is trying to take a special genre rooted in the cultural experience, intimate and emulate the rock star and hollywood star model. This is not necessary.
You dont have to make a cd, you dont need a tour, you dont need a stage crew, you dont have to become well known you just have to play music, share it and when a public event you do it for free when a private event comes along you charge money.

WHEN THE FOLK MUSIC WORLD HAS TO SUPPORT WANNABE ROCK STAR LIKE FOLKS WE ARE ALL PAYING TOO MUCH. WE DONT NEED STAR WORSHIP.

We also do not need events which are primarily entertainment and sales events. The primairy task for festivals is:

1. Preservation of the old material in living form.

2. Encouraging performance and composition as a part of the lifeway at home by ordinary people

Nothing in this requires expense or profit small or large.

You just have to think differently and be open to major paradigm change.

If its not free you are keeping someone out. That is intolerable.

I dont care what the organization if people are getting paid please do not ask for volunteers 0that practice is unethical. I dont care if the volunteers like it. They are still being used. yeah! I have seen folk musicians relaxing by the hotel pool whilst volunteers were doing the hard work. Yes there are exceptions but not enough of them.

Nothing wrong with professional musicians but their role in public needs to be adapted. Once the music is freed there will be much more access and more opportunities for private events.

Yes we can have folk music everywhere. No sense rationing it.

Conrad