It [this sort of communal environment] doesn't exist in the folk genre (whatever that is) according to some people, Will!

I'm sure you're right. I should have that, when I said "I hate it" in my previous post, it's not the "community feel-good" nature of the evening that I hate - far from it - it's the dismal standard of musicianship and lack of self-awareness that I hate. Seen as a social catalyst, these evenings have huge merit but, as a musician, I do find them unbelievably tedious.

I'll expand on the "as a musician" bit. I believe that any musician worth his/her salt knows - or should know - exactly where they stand in their proficiency. You should try to develop an honest and accurate assessment of your real abilities, because that's part of the impetus to get better (if you want to get better). So, I can look at the work of some guitarists and think, "yeah - I can do that, and probably better than that". I can also look at the work of other guitarists and say, "I wish...". It's essential to be able to develop that perspective.

In the jazz world, you soon find that perspective, because better players can blow you off the stand - and you'll know it when it's happened!