I agree, Ron. Reading many of the posts made by Barry, Mick, Bill and Ron, it sounds as if they they would just a soon shoot some one as see them read lyrics from RUS or anything else. But I have had the privilege, at Getaways, to participate in song circles with all of them, and they have all, especially Barry, been very encouraging and empowering. In fact, it was at my first Getaway, 5 or 7 years ago, that I rediscovered my voice after nearly 20 years of doing no music, and overcame much of my anxiety about singing in front of others. These lovely people have witnessed me muff songs badly when I didn't have the lyrics in front of me, and complimented and encouraged me after I have have shared a song with the lyrics in front of me - sometimes from RUS. (The only time I ever sang at the Saturday night concert without lyrics in front of me, I forgot the last verse - and it was a song I wrote!)

I am speaking as some one without much experience participating in song circles except for the Getaway. Inspired by the Getaway, I facilitated a song circle for 6 or 7 months a few years ago, and was surprised at how much work it was, and disappointed in the results. In many ways, the area where I live (Durham/Chapel Hill area of NC) is a musical Mecca, but there is not a tradition of informal sing arounds or song circles. I was hoping to start something akin to the song circles at the Getaway, but since there was not a tradition here, I was very reluctant (as well as very inexperienced at such endeavors) to exert any leadership beyond sending out the monthly e-mail reminder and being there to unlock the door. Concerned about having enough participants I was afraid to voice expectations that might result in people not coming. Over time, it wasn't very successful, largely because it wasn't clearly enough defined.   Some people viewed it as a group sing rather than a sing around. Some people mostly were interested in show tunes.   When it was lovely, it was very lovely, but it fizzled because the lack of clear direction and focus, as well as divergent but unspoken expectations made it an unsatisfying experience for all of us. A song circle can not be all things to all people and be successful.

I don't know if I will try again at some point in the future to start another song circle. But if I do, I'll follow mg's advice from the git-go, and make explicit what my own expectations and desires are.