Soph, it's hopeless. In the 2 years I've been on Mudcat this subject has been done to death! Some folks are just rude...and don't know it. It's back to that "social skills" thing I was talking about. It's why song circles, group therapy sessions, bluegrass jams, Church congregations, and card games all follow the same path. Eventually the ones who take their enjoyment of music seriously, split off into another group....and the same pattern happens again.

The only answer is "closed sessions"....and then you're called "elitist".

Joan, a couple of times at "The Woods Music and Dance Camp" I was asked to facilitate very large song circles. I tried a few things, but the best was to ask folks to break into 3 separate groups. Nobody complained and everyone in each circle got to sing 4 or 5 songs. Naturally, the next day I heard that "someone" complained that I'd messed with the "community spirit". Ya can't win! Ha Ha.

Rick