When I first started going to folk clubs way back in the sixties the music was almost exclusively provided by the Guests, It now seems that everyone regards themselves as a performer, with or without crib sheets. So now sitting and listening to a Guest doesn't cut it anymore for a lot of people, hence they only turn up when they can perform. I have looked at the Folk 21 site and it seems to me they are more concerned with the survival of the Guest format to enable a few people to earn their living from performing at Folk Clubs. Personally, I don't mind if Guest Nights survive or not, as long as people with a common musical interest get together regularly and enjoy themselves.