We even applaud those people lucky enough to win the folk club raffle. Why?

But it is nice to get - not just applause, but some positive feedback in the way of personal comments, especially when you are newish to performing and need some encouragement. But as Andy suggests, you can and should still be self-critical when you know you've screwed up, while another part of the learning curve is being able to cover up and carry on, and keep smiling through as if that bum note was meant to happen! Then fewer people will notice than if you get all flustered and apologetic or have to stop and re-start.

And what is also good, if you have put together an event and done your best to look after your artistes well, they take the trouble to phone or email afterwards to say how much they enjoyed the event - as happened this last weekend with one band.