Conrad, I am a singer and I play at least 3 instruments fairly well, and a few more to at least passable standard. While it's not my primary source of income, I do get paid for playing - since April I've done 20 gigs, and could have done more. I'm not saying this to show off but to show that I am quite capable of making music for myself. Nevertheless I still want to listen to professional musicians - mainly for enjoyment, and also to learn from them. I'm also prepared to pay to do so, because I feel I get value for money. Professionals don't become unnecessary just because people can make their own music.

Large venues present music to more people, which appears to be your underlying aim, so why are you so opposed? Here's an example of why large venues can be better:

Let's suppose that a festival organiser with a sense of humour has booked Conrad Bladey to perform. Through Mudcat, Conrad's fame has spread worldwide, and 1000 people turn up, all wanting to hear him tootle his whistle and see the amazing Horn Hat. At a festival run according to The Concept, only about 30 of those would be able to see him, leaving 970 of them disappointed. Is that a good folk experience for them? Will they have been educated? No.

Or perhaps he could do a succession of performances. Unfortunately, he'd have to do over 30 of them to cover all the people who want to see him. Do you really think that's possible? Or that people will hang around for 30 hours waiting for their chance? Again, is that a good experience? I don't think so.

Alternatively, he could go on a stage with a PA and perform once to 1000 people. They all receive a folk experience and get educated.

No one is saying that big venues are better than small ones in all circumstances - quite the opposite. However they are both part of a diverse folk scene which gives people a choice of how they enjoy their music and to what extent they wish to participate. I fail to understand how an impoverished folk scene offering only one choice would benefit music in any way.

Fortunately we don't have to worry about this since no one apart form him believes Conrad's 'Concept' has any merit whatsoever.