Mountain Dog - during MY 5 yr hitch in the DC area, I think I tried all the groups... FSGW did a lot of great stuff for which they - and Dick Cerri - must be given tremendous credit. But there were many occasions in which the main monthly song "circle" fell far short of the fair-minded idealised impression you get in this and other threads in the forum. Frankly, DC has a steadfast, deeply entrenched segment - always well represented - that are adamantly cold to people who are transient, (even if long-term, as are people in many catagories of govt employ), as well as those who are not at all "kinder and gentler" to people who sing songs they don't like.

In spite of this, I think song circles are really important, and should be supported and participated in, by any who may have the interest; therefore, my advice would be to "soldier on" and participate anyway - just don't let them intimidate you. You can learn a lot, and you might just teach some of them a thing or two.

By the way, I sometimes found the folkies of nearby Baltimore more freindly and more fun, so if you encounter too many of the less freindly varient of DC folkies, take a jaunt up to "balmer," untill you mannage to meet some of the better greater DC types.

Sorry to sound so crabby, cheers, BK