I sing solo, because I a) can't play the guitar, b) couldn't be arsed to hump the thing around if I did and c) I have trouble enough remembering to take the words with me, Heaven only knows how I'd go if I had to bring dots as well....

When I started singing regularly in clubs, it was a rare thing to see a woman singing sans guitar, and singing rude songs, which is what I did. Most people shut up because they wanted to hear the words. Those that didn't were put upon by their more discriminating neighbours until they did.

The addition of the 'talk while they sing, buy them a pint' rule in one club did wonders for the chatterers (and my beer intake!). The reasoning was they'd paid to come into the club so obviously wanted to hear the music.. anyone who only wanted to drink was welcome to use the bar across the yard.

We're all so innured to background noise and 'muzak' now that when it stops, we wonder where it went. If you can, check out certain programmes on UK and US TV. Star Trek is a prime example.... Whilst in Canada I watched an episode. The background music on the US showings was almost enough to drown out the dialogue. When I saw the same episode a few weeks later in the UK, I couldn't work out why the words were strange but the pictures hauntingly familiar (any comments about them using the same plot every week will not be answered). I realised then, that the US showing was inaudible because of the loud, intrusive music. When a room goes quiet for a singer, it's because of the change in background noise.

One thing that infuriates me is when a singer is introduced in a club or singaround and people don't shut up.

LTS