I am not infavour of Open Mic sessions these (with pa) and yes you can have an Open Mic without pa only serve to benefit the pa guy who gets paid and the publican who gets clientelle. Singers get what? experience with the pa and that's it

The Wakefield sessions in Fernandes and Bull and Fairhouse are well attended normally with room for audience and friends and give good order for singers and musicians

Barnsley folk club is not a Concert club and this can cause problems as we have DOERS who want to sing/play and some dedicated AUDIENCE ~ like many clubs audiences need to be developed and clubs need to attract people to come and be entertained by a range of singers and musicians. It is no longer the Mission of Folk clubs to provide a living (part time or other) to folk artists, CONCERT CLUBS are another matter!

Individual folk clubs have their own reason for being and certainly we (THE FOLK CLUBS) should be doing more to encourage all comers whoever and what ever they do which is "folk" ~ don't ask me to define folk though please

Other venues and pubs and halls as alternatives to the folk clubs are coming more into the picture

Everyone is looking for an Audience, and my view is that nothing should be taken for granted and artists have a duty to put back into the clubs their experience, the cheek of some acts to ask for bookings without considering the potential audience available is sometimes baffling

Clubs should not book artists who they do not wish to see and then make excuses when no one turns up!

Ray