Hmmm...still can't tell enough to know what was going on. Some people ARE just creeps, you know; it's too bad, but I hope you keep trying other places 'till you find one that 'fits.'

(Oh--the folks who joined our paid performance never stopped to ask if it was okay to join us. They just walked up and joined in with our group, which looked--to them--like a group of folkies playing under the trees at the Heritage Days festival. Which we were, only we were there by request & contract...)

And, like Kernow John, I've had the 'guitar player whanging away during an intentionally unaccompanied song' experience, too...usually in a rhythm totally unrelated to the song being sung...BUT, no matter how good they are, there are songs you just want/need to sing unaccompanied!

So, keep looking, if you want to find new places to play. (Sounds like you already have some.) If they're snobs, you don't want to play with them anyway!

Denise:^)