Ego.

It's all about ego.

None of us as performers would perform at all if we did not have an inflated ego. We need self-interest in order to sing in front of an audience. We all have a bit of, 'look at me, I'm good' syndrome, or we wouldn't do it.

Okay, maybe a rare few are embarrassed by their popularity.

But those who are successful have real talent to go along with the ego. The talent of the lesser gifted is not enhanced or compensated by an inflated ego way beyond ability.

I well remember being well castigated by the mother of a lad who submitted a tape to me, when I was DJing on local radio. She was incensed that I should reject it. Her son had amazing singer-songwriting talent! (It was very poor unoriginal three chord imitations of Dylan stuff, poorly sung.)

I think, from listening to what the OP has done, reading his website, and comparing him with the talent of those on the circuit, and again with good local floor singers, he is attempting to 'punch well beyond his weight'.

I don't mean this unkindly. I am trying to be factual and to keep this in proportion.

As a past club and festival organiser I would not book him. He isn't in that league. But he's welcome to come along to one of our singarounds. But then I wouldn't book myself either! I was a song collector too. But off of LPs. There was a a time, but not now.

Maybe the answer is for him to tap into the educational fields if he wants his work to have a wider hearing? Schools might book him, if he can talk about traditional music.

If you prove me wrong, Gwilym, and appear on the programme of a folk club or festival here in Yorkshire, I'll buy you a pint and apologise.

But at the moment, all I can say is, nice try.

Tone