A number of singers I've talked to report that they've been offered bookings at various venues (not folk clubs I hasten to add) for no fee. These seem to be small pubs or restaurants; some may provide performers with free drinks or food, which may not be much of an incentive as a lot of singers would rather not eat or drink before or during a performance. Others have merely said it would provide an opportunity to sell some CDs. My first reaction, which is probably shared by a lot of singers, especially those involved in Folk21, is that they must be joking! It's one thing doing a couple of songs at a local session or singers' night, where no-one gets paid, but being expected to be on stage for over an hour for no remuneration? You wouldn't expect a plumber to work for a couple of hours for nothing, so why should a singer or musician?

I remember a discussion some years ago with Lancashire singer Harry Boardman, a lifelong trade unionist, whose attitude was that a booked performer should always be paid – the only exception being for a bona fide charity performance. Which raises an interesting point: many of the venues offering unpaid gigs are remote village pubs that are feeling the pinch and trying to avoid joining the increasing number of closed pubs. It would be a great loss to the community if they were to close, as has happened in other villages. In other words, you could regard the gig as a charity performance.