Song circles should be focussed on songs. Any accompaniment should by just that: accompaniment. If someone is hell-bent on displaying their instrumental virtuosity, he or she is in the wrong pew. Also, learn what you plan on doing and leave the damned songbooks at home. To me, it's bloody boring to sit around with everybody singing from a songbook. I can do that in church on Sunday.

Anyone who plays a percussion instrument should be attended by someone with a brain who will sit close by and administer a dope-slap whenever the person with the percussion instrument doesn't seem to know when to remain silent. And bongos per se are an abomination. I'll never forget the bongo player who used to follow me around and insisted on backing me on everything, including Greensleeves.

Other instruments: if you can't carry it with one hand and/or if it needs to be plugged in, leave it at home.

Don Firth