E demolished - I love that one!

I agree, Billy, it's best to be kind to everyone. Even if they suck, it's not nice to hurt their feelings.

Of course, when talking from pro to pro and asking for advice, the advice should be truthful. But even then, there are ways to tell people what they are doing wrong without insulting them. Make the criticism constructive and gentle.

On stage, Mrs. Notes and I don't let anyone sit-in. We use backing tracks that I make myself. They are in our key, and our arrangement, and even if the singer is accomplished, it would be unfair to him/her as he/she would have a hard time following the arrangement and might not be able to sing it in our key.

I explain that we use custom pre-recorded tracks, and if they really want to sit in, we would need to schedule a rehearsal first. I explain that not knowing our arrangement and our key would probably make them look bad in front of the crowd.

That usually does that trick with the person who wants to sit in. The "friend of a person who wants to sit in" is more difficult to discourage.

I like jam sessions, and that's that place to sit in.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks