Perhaps I am lucky but that has rarely been my experience. I am mainly a player but like backing songs and, in the sessions I go to, others players do too. There is always the odd exception of course and you do get the odd "purist" session of songs or tunes. I tend to avoid those personally as that does not fit my philosophy as far a music is concerned. In all cases, respect and sensitivity for others are important and form the backbone of the unwritten session etiquette. I do appreciate that, for the occasional individual, learning and playing the tunes is a lot easier than learning and observing the etiquette.

RS