We attended a song circle of people who know each other well, whole we were on vacation. In place of a general welcome, they were busy having an informal meeting over an upcoiming festival they are all involved in. (It's a thriving folk community.) I took this not as their being elitists, but as a chance to learn something-- our monthly jam is tonight, with many newcomers due to the PR push I've had going. And we "core members" are going to have a mini-rehearsal ourselves for a gig that's tomorrow, since some of us have been out of twon when we might have rehearsed otherwise. *G* So I will be sure to welcome everyone first, and explain what we are doing. It can be a demo on how to prep for a gig.

These things do not need hard-and-fast judgments-- who's elitist and who's not... it's just that sometimes people do not stop and think, and when something has been going on for a long time it does take on a life of it's own. That's why we have festivals and workshops and folk societies.... because some group or person was willing to take on leadership and start something. And that's fine-- it does not mean anyone is going out of their way to be a**holes (or victims).

You just... DEAL with it, start something else if you like, do the best you can, and be as smart and helpful as you can be.

~Susan