"If a folk club sets rules that are there to support their regular and loyal residents and to be cautious about drop-ins, just live with it. The rule has downsides. But I'm afraid I'm with the guest, notwithstanding his abrasive approach."
firstly we are talking about guest booking folk clubs not pub sessions, in my considerable experience [40 years getting paid to play at folk clubs]this is the first occasion that i have come across that a club refuses to allow outside singers to perform, in my opinion this is an inward looking policy, outside professional and semi professional singers provide variety and are of a a standard of good quality, that in my experience helps the quality of the evening.
regular and loyal residents should be there to support the club when there are few outside quality singers, they should not be there for there own glory but there for the overall benefit of the club. in future if i am in this area i will support the other folk club in newport.