A few ideas that have been successful for the Hudson Valley Folk Guild:

Advertise the signup time as 1/2 hour before the start.

The number of songs each will then be determined by the number signed up by starting time. If you have to obey a curfew, it may only be one song. If it is one song, and you finish early, go around again for those who stayed. This also helps newcomers and those who come after some places would have closed the list, because you can go knowing everyone plays. Critical. Even if someone comes in late, find a way to get them up for one song.

As an aside, three songs is too many to listen to for many of the performers! Two songs is enough to see if they will all sound the same.

Make it a time limit as well as a number of songs. Some songs take 20 minutes!

The pro player idea is good - it makes it a guild. A variation is to have a 'featured performer' who plays 5 songs or 25 minutes tops, and goes on after the break.

Have an open refreshments table with donations. You will make far more than charging per item.

If the host can't perform, no one will want to host, so have the host open and close with one song each. Then it becomes an honor to host and you attract people good at it (another subject).

BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.