What sems to work in the UK (OK we don't have people just hopping over the border) is to run your club as a singers' club 3 weeks a month, still charging a pittance to come in (singers too) - we charge GBP1 at our club. The pub gives the romm free - to sell more beer. We run a raffle. SO each of these weeks shows a profit of GBP 10 to GBP 20. About once a month we can afford a guest. Most of the big names encourage small clubs by playing for a huge discount. Next month it's Martin Carthy who will play to a small room packed (I guess) with 70 people. For him we will charge entry of GBP 4. For most other artists we will charge GBP 2. Not-very famous acts get a market rate of between GBP 50 and GBP 100. We put performers who have come a distance up at our house. We then make a loss of between GBP 40 and GBP 100 per guest. SO over time we break even. Bands are a problem - they need so much more money. A straight per head multiple of GBP 100 soon adds up, so I fear we will never be able to book say Coope Boyes and Simpson - possibly the UK's premier acappella folk trio.