It's probably some sort of reflection of the times.

... try getting an agent these days too! One I talked to recently about one of the acts on my label has more enquiries from artists than they know what to do with, many of which are from people who are apparently pretty good at what they do. You'd have thought the few who do get taken on would get a better service than this. I always thought playing free gigs was something you did early on to get out there playing live, to start to build a reputation and to attract agents, labels and so on - not something your agent sorted out for you once you'd got one.

Having said that, there's not so many folk clubs around any more (and a fair few of them book the same few musicians time and time again because they know that's what they and their existing audience want) and as Will says, that kind of thing is quite standard (for new acts at least) on the indie and pub rock scenes. Or promoters will pay for a headliner and not even give expenses to the support act - the idea being that the exposure is enough of a reward in itself. Which might be the case.

Are they someone you'd consider booking as a paid act, Vic? If so I guess that if you do book them, you could pay them something even if they're not asking for anything...