"... so we can prepare ourselves..."?

What kind of nonsense is that, Barry?
Come on.....

It's not a service musicians are providing at sessions; where I come from it is only a spectator sport if you're not in the music grouping. Remember that sessions were always meant to pass the music on between the musicians, first and foremost.

What on earth is wrong with asking permission. The 'Old Timers' would have been asked permission, too, 'cos in those days everybody was a hell of a lot nicer to each other.

"Please Brendy, this is filled with some self indulgence & some self importance, it was started that way, with that intention & a cheap shot of stirring the pot"

... not quite sure what that sentence means.

Anyway..., you don't seem to have a problem with the theory of asking musicians forst, so at least that's half the battle.

B.