I think it's supposed to be open. I was really wondering more about your opinions on the concept. I understand and support etiquette at these things, always have. But I don't like to be exclusive, I don't like to get into anyone else's personal realm, if it really is theirs, and I don't enjoy music that has to maintain it's purity at the cost of others' learning, or others' creativity for that matter. Peter, I think what you say is very relevant. I wouldn't have thought of it that way, but it does make a lot of sense. I guess people should have their little plots of purity to guard, but in art forms that are all about the oral tradition, I think it's not quite right to fail to make people of lesser ability welcome. That's certainly the way I learned; I'll never forget standing, mandolin in hand, with large groups of people at the Fiddler's Grove festival and playing Over the Waterfall for what seemed like an hour. By four or five times around I had it, and it was easier on the next tune. I also remember all-night sessions with such legends as Tommy Jarrell and Ralph Blizzard among many others, and nobody every saying anything about lesser musicians like myself even moving to the edge of the group. I really don't mean to put this particular session down; I like the people and the proprietors are extremely hospitable. If you're ever in Columbia, SC, on a Sunday evening, look up the Publick House on Devine Street. It's all Irish, and is generally lots of fun.

Chet