SUCCESS at the Mariposa Folk Festival for some talented Canadian performers doesn't mean much to Toronto's coffeehouse owners.

Take honey-voiced folksinger Joni Mitchell for example.

Last year the Saskatoon-born singer won much praise from audiences and critics when she performed her own material at Mariposa. Again this year, she was cheered by audiences at the Friday night concert, the Sunday afternoon ballad workshop and the afternoon concert.

Two of the 25 songs she has written, The Circle Game and Urge For Going, have been recorded by Tom Rush and are about to be included in the latest Ian and Sylvia album.

PHRASING

Her lyrics are fine turns of phrases ("we're captives on the carousel of time "); her style quiet, almost hushed; her looks pleasing.

But the 22-year-old singer, who married a Detroit folksinger last year and moved out of the city, can't win any interest from club owners.

"One club owner after Mariposa last year told me to call him when I was ready for his club," she remarked yesterday as the cheers of the crowd were ringing in her ears.

"Just a few months ago my manager called another club owner who said he would hire me... as a wairess."

One of her songs Play Little David Play, dedicated to Toronto guitar accompanist David Rea drew rousing and sustained applause at yesterday's concert. Even David blushed at its reception.