I play bodhran, and find some of these comments interesting.

I tend to take turns, for instance I was in a sessions last night (hangover to match too) and there were 3 bodhran players. Well, me and one of the other players knew the etiquette very well. And we would put down, and listen. But both of us also play very well together too. And it can sound nice. But when the third started up then things got a little annoying.

Bonnie, you think that was bad with all the drummers.

I was in a session on Sunday, and there was a person, playing the wood block, and a bloomin tamborine.

I can't tell you where I wanted him to shove it, wouldnt be polite.

He was getting on my nerves - I couldn't hear the flute player (as I will follow one player whilst playing my drum) and his beat etc was awful. Not to mention loud, and tambourine! Arghhhhhhh arghhhhhh arghhhhhhhhhh.

Someone once told me in a session that I should put bells on my bodhran - if I didn't need my bodhran for gigs etc I think I would have made him wear it.

As for all the put downs for bodhran players, some of you probably have not heard good bodhran players. I do wish though that more people would use session ettiquete. I like to listen to other peoples playing so it doesnt bother me if I am not playing.

Anyway, I can always switch to flute/whistle it's handy to have a second instrument.

Back to annoying tamboring man - I nearly put his lights out when I was singing a nice dreamy old irish song - which I usually sing unaccompanied. next time I am bringing araldite to glue the clangy things together.

Ella