I sometimes attend a session on a Monday night that is lead by a semi-professional group pf folk singers. There are four in the group and sometimes two extras ( a bass and mandolin player). There is a young woman who sometimes joins us who does a percussion side to things and there is me, often with my Tak 12.

If they, as a group, wishes to do a song or a tune, as a group, then they usually ask whoever they do not wish to join in not to join in. It's that simple. Within the larger group of us we all know we can say on any given song who we want in and who we don't. No-one takes offence if they are excluded on some songs. Sometimes less is more with a song and sometimes more can make less. As musicians we all know this.

All that said. I have been to some places - and not returned - where you get the guy on guitar or something else who drowns out what you are doing and you cannot follow yourself. On two occasions I have stopped and asked that they refrain as I cannot concentrate. In one case it was an accordian player who not only was out of tune but also had no subtlety. In another club it was two mandolins, a violin and someone who twiddles up and down single strings at a tune he has no knowledge of. On one occasion I even stopped playing myself as they set up their own (all different) rythmns and tunes. Not good!

It's difficult. If you are with other musicians who know that we all have our own strengths and weaknesses then they will understand if you introduce that you only want so-and-so in or no-one. One cannot always get up and move somewhere else and sometimes, for the sake of peace, you say nothing.

in short. If you are at a free for all I guess there is little you can do. If you are at a genuine club with mostly genuine musicians no-one should take offence. It's yout turn, your tune and your song.

mp