From the inside as the bandleader for a fairly high profile NW morris side, I agree with what Folkiedave has just said. Whenever we get a major festival booking there are always certain musicians who we don't see for months on end because they are "busy" (sometimes with the other five teams they are attached to) who suddenly, miraculously, become available. From my point of view they are a pain because they put off the "regulars" by needing nods and winks all the time to let them know when to change tunes etc, drawing your concentration away from the core job of providing a good solid backing for the dancers. The quality of the music suffers. In the end you have to be hard and tell people that they aren't welcome - I would personally rather have a small band who know what they are doing than a freeloading cast of thousands who put everybody off.