Doesn't that sound somewhat bitter, Steve? To me you're saying that those who DO make their living from their music, working damned hard to do so too, more often than not, aren't to even be considered in keeping the folk scene alive.

You see, I pick up a bad feeling in this thread, towards musicians who do get paid, who DARE to feel they SHOULD get paid too.

Often, they too contribute freely of their time, despite being professional musicians..and they also use the fact that they may be headlining at various festivals, to introduce new acts to the folk world too...

So, pooOOOOOOoooo to your statement above....

There is NOTHING wrong with musicians being PAID for what they do and it's appalling that so many are NOT paid, often being used by those who seek to make money from them being there in the first place...

And just to re-iterate for the Pedantic Twits in this thread, that I am NOT advocating that musicians should be paid at all times, even when playing amongst their friends etc...sigh...just that if others are making money from the fact that those musicians ARE playing in the first place, pulling in the crowds, then the musicians, above all others, should be the ones to receive payment.

Next time your plumber comes round, tell him you regard his skill as a hobby and that he gave you joy fixing your toilet, so therefore, you ain't going to pay him a darn thing...and see what happens.

Fine, if music is your HOBBY, so be it, go out there and play around, but if it IS your chosen form of work, then you should darn well be paid for it, in a generous and respectful way..