I probably won't make myself popular here but IMHO some of the replies above seem to suggest that the organizers or "good level" regulars at such an open stage have just as much of an "ego" problem as the people they are criticising or calling "appalling" and this seems to me to be part of the problem.

Let's face it, we all started somewhere...even the top professionals...and somewhere, sometime, somebody gave us all a chance. Some of us haven't progressed to any great degree since even in decades. I have several students who couldn't play a note six months ago who, today, are beginning to do things I can learn from myself.

I MC'ed a club in the UK for 6 years and I can remember we had everybody from the the very best to the very worst at some point doing a spot. Perhaps it's because we tried to foster a "club" atmosphere that even the "worst" performers were accepted and, funnily enough, these "bad" performers gradually built up confidence and more skill due to a supportive environment and it was a joy to most people to behold their progress even if they never became "good" performers (whatever the criteria for that is). I've also been to some clubs where the MC has berated performers and, frankly, have not cared to go back because of that attitute.

Surely "folk music" or "acoustic music" (I'm not going to attempt to get into a definition or split hairs on this) is by its very nature by everyone for everyone. That implies, at least to me, trhe need for a certain level of tolerance as to the varying degrees of confidence and proficiency of ones "guests".

Respectfully,

mooman