Howdy fiddlesticks, you'll have to excuse me if I have a good laugh at this....and I'm NOT laughing at your dilemma!

This "problem" has been going on since the first two musicians got together to "play it right". Do you know what they decided?

"IF WE WANT IT PLAYED "RIGHT" WE GOTTA FORM A BAND!

Not go to sessions, or jams, or song circles, or parties etc. These things are for the "social" aspects of playing music, not places for "getting tight" (and I don't mean in the drinking sense)

When you form a band, you can choose the types of personalities, the skill levels, the "look" of the people in it......anything you want. When you go to a public place where anyone can join in, you risk EXACTLY what is bothering you in your post.

Go to a session for fun, and if you don't want to have half the people think you're a bastard, just relax and go with the flow. YOU SIMPLY CAN'T WIN, by trying to be restrictive. (Maybe Mario can find a couple of related threads 'cause I know we've had 'em)

If you want the music "tight", start your own band....and maybe even steal one or two players from the "hijacked session".

Cheers

Rick