I imagine that every folk club has a few regulars who have responded to the challenge of "professionalism" by practicing a few songs to absolute perfection - so they come out exactly the same every time. They don't seem to have taken on board that real professionals are hit and run - they can do exactly the same act ten nights in succession, but it'll be to ten different audiences.

Traditional singers always had a few setpieces, but they didn't practice in front of a mirror to do the same thing regardless of the audience response as present-day floor singers with "high standards" do. Gimme somebody performing something that's just got their attention and means something to them any day, even if they have to use a sheet of words.