A singaround is really very much like a forum such as this (Mudcat). When you turn up, you should spend some time looking and listening, to understand what is done and what is not. If the geneal standard of performance is stratospheric in comparison to you, you're probably best not even trying. On the other hand if you're invited to have a go, be modest, try something and see what the reaction is.

The singarounds I have attended in the last twelve years or so have all been very welcoming and non-judgemental in the sense that they don't criticise the performer to their face (even if there is some discussion when they're not around), but more importantly, everyone is asked to perform. This last point is very important. Someone I knew about 20 years ago at a singaround I used to attend was frankly very poor both in singing and playing. The organiser however encouraged him and wouldn't hear anything bad said about him. It was that encouragement that ended up with him being a pretty proficient player today.

It isn't criticising anyone at my current club to say what sort of "offences" are committed, because I commit all of them myself (some more often than others): bum notes, read words, forgotten words, key changes, wrong tunes, poor playing - I don't think there's a single person in the room who wouldn't admit to at least one of these on occasions. Any laughing is done with (not at) the performer, knowing their temperament to be able to cope with it. surely the point of a singaround is to allow people to sing. The enjoyment of the evening comes from singing as well as from listening. If the performances are a bit variable, it's a matter of congratulating the best and encouraging the poorer ones. Whatever happens, everyone is applauded.

Simon