On reflection as a Brit, I'm with DtG.
Apart from Festival Organisers (most of whom are unpaid anyway!) we don't have commitees/club officers/leaders of the folk community!
Just a bunch of people in various parts of the country putting on events for little/no money.
I have never seen anyone tell a performer what they should/not sing/play...A gentle suggestion that it actually sounds "nicer in F rather than G...why not give it a try?" But, certainly no strong arm tactics.
I personally reserve my loudest applaud for the 10 year old scraping painfully away on a fiddle...
And it's well known that Martin Carthy sits patiently through every act doing a floor spot at one of his gigs.. No matter how painful.
There really is no 1% versus 99% in our country. If it really is like that in the US then I feel sorry for you.
But, if you can't get gigs, you must ask yourself why.
And no, This isn't me having a go. I just can't afford the petrol and the gigs just aren't there for people in their late 50s.
Mind you, I do have 30 years of memories.....which is nice.