Older audiences these days tend to have the money to shell out in tickets to events. I don't know a single folkie under 30 who is gainfully employed enough to cover basic needs (food clothing shelter) and still be able to buy tickets AND fiddle strings. That's why they are at the jams, and playing for half a night at the contra dances (so they can dance for the other half). There aren't any folk clubs around where I live, btw, but a healthy amount of "folklore societies" hosting the best around- like Deb Cowan and John Roberts , for example!