Hi Dan, as a bodhran player I take no offense, I give you the gun & the 4 bullets. I used to play sessions 4-7 nights a week for years until became in the family way now it's maybe 1 every couple months. If there were more drummers than was tastefully called, drummers that I knew would nod or make motion that they'd like to join in "could I please have a shot" or "I've just played a couple tunes why don't you jump in for awhile". My old roommate & the only father of my drums used to play (until he got family) alot of the same sessions & we'd go back & forth swapping turns & once & awhile we'd back in behind the other's style & complement the other maybe using a backbeat or one keeping the strong rythnm & the other a soft embellishment. Trouble is when 4 or 7 drummers walk in at once it's a good bet they don't all know each other & the levels of experence most likely will be erratic & 7 drums will never sound as nice as 7 fiddles, 7 banjos...hum. If I sit out most of the night it's ok, a couple or 3 is alright but it is a bummer when a session takes a dive for no good reason, especially since some or maybe even most sessions can be so dam temperamental to start with. You really never know what you're walking into do you? Some nights are diamonds...., with more modesty, good manners and common sense that you mention they'd be far more gems. The singer's session a few weeks ago could've been elite with all the great singers that poured out from the woodwork but that same taste, sense & manners had to've made it one of the best singing sessions I ever witnessed. Some sessions are great few are magical. Most of the other magical sessions I've seen were usually spontaneous ones at a festival or a party.

AndyG, Hi, I've sat at that end of the bar a bit too & I don't even like to drink that much. Don't avoid the session just sit out if they're overwhelming it & in a sensitive way let them know that they're being rude & you won't partake until a little more awareness of each other is evident so that you all can share without hammering nails into a coffin.

Mick, Thanks for the warm backing, still no elite warriors.

SeanM, it's been 20 years since I lived in the Marina area of San Francisco & I really looked forward to those shanty sings, only been back a couple times to visit in-laws so I tried to gear them to the sings.

Barry