Don what you are advocating is what occured in Irish pub singing around 1945. Somewhere I will find the source- essentially a history of irish pubs here somewhere.

Prior to that time people of all kinds of skill levels would play or sing in pubs casually.

With the advent of tourism and mobility from the cities the musicians started to attract attention and audience. Where at first singers and players were just amongst their piers they became known to a wider audience. Soon competition for the "best" grew. Publicans added stage managers and amplification to the venues.

Before long the favorite, but not "excelent" musicians were locked out of performance venues and the locals complained.

This is what has happened today. You may have lots of songs and tunes but you wont be playing at Don's folk festivals- but if people think you are good and you only have singer songwriter's words and music the product of your own mind entirely you will be given a venue and given the title of folk musician.

I do not wish to ban new material but I think anything with the word folk attached should contain a fair percentage of old material.

Conrad