Well, in response to that I'll hark back to one of Michael's tenets, that a tune session is not a performance. We don't expect the pub customers to be quiet or even take any notice of us at all. In nearly all cases there will be an appropriate level of respect given in that regard in any case, no need to ask. A singer IS performing and requires a change of atmosphere in order for him or her to be heard. But a pub session is not a folk club or a singaround. The participants will often dive in with their tune sets without necessarily consulting first. That's all part of the ethos, the fun of the thing. Informality in keeping the thing going is the name of the game. If you want to sing, that concept has to be understood, and conversely the tunesmiths need to show some forbearance towards singers. If it's all about consciously competing to get in, it isn't much of a session. As for singers, best to leave your twelve-minute 25-verse ballads at home. If there's an obvious session "leader" (we never had one), have a quiet word if you want a song. You can hear how things can go nicely if you listen to Music At Matt Molloy's.