I think in informal on off gatherings, like the kind that happen at festivals, it just calls for basic good manners and consideration for others. To enjoy the unpredictability and spontaneous nature of such events.

Regular ones are probably best left to everyone being at least offered a turn in a circle. This should always give enough advance warning to prepare or decline to perform. It is a very simple method and presents less problems than others tend to. But organisers among us, do need to have something to organise, I accept.

If there is to be a leader or different rules, then these should be available and easily seen and always kept to. It matters less what these rules are than making sure that there are known and strictly followed. The choice then can be made, as to whether it is to the potential participant's liking, or not.

If I have a preference, it is for the former.

To stir the pot a little: At an informal gathering this weekend, which was mainly instrumental, a singer sang a song, after talking loudly, all through the tunes. The players politely listened to the song and then carried on. The singer went away and returned after short while to ask, "does anyone want a song"? Receiving no reply, the singer then went off in a little bit of a huff and the tunes continued.

It should be recognised, on these occasions, by singers, that many instrumental players are also capable of singing but choose not to in such a gathering and if all those present did chose to sing, there would be no room left for tunes. Given that fact, I think that melody players are usually surprisingly generous when incidents like this happen.

Guitar players however, just can't win, under any circumstances.