To be fair, annoying questions can come from in the trenches:

"What's the name of that tune?" (Of course I'm not going to know.)

"What was that thing you did? I think it was in the previous set somewhere." ("What thing?" "I don't know.")

"Oh, were you sitting here?" (I suppose the flute and the pint weren't evidence enough.)

"Shouldn't you tune?" (How dare they. )

Oh, okay. Good one!



Yeah, I just didn't want write it out. Hints why it's only as internet-speak...

You never know, some time will be the first time you actually do know the name, and you would't want to miss out on that!



I've found that the only way to deal with those people are to simply do what Seamus Tansey did, and write them a strongly worded open letter and have it read on public radio. Since I did that, people tune after me. Even the box players do.

"Y'all play any Flogging Molly?"

For a while, Matt Hensley - the accordion player and a founding member of Flogging Molly - was a regular at one of our sessions. Might have been interesting to get that question back then (though it never happened, IIRC).

It's ok once or twice, but I know a couple of people who want to know the name of every single tune played. That's very wearing, making me think like that.

I'm curious, why is this annoying? A mandolin player that can beat out a decent backup line is always a welcome sight at our little gatherings..

As for me, the most irritating question I've been asked is, "Do you always play Irish music?" (Asked after we'd all finished singing Haughs of Cromdale with Scottish accents).

Bingo, there's another annoying question.

Seriously ... In my experience playing Irish trad, the word "jam" in that context is a red flag that has only ever turned out to mean one thing. Namely: "I don't know the tunes and know nothing about the music or sessions. But I'll fake it by improvising and playing rock/blues/jazz/bluegrass/klezmer/salsa riffs, and not really worry if it actually sounds good or if you mind because, y'know, it's all about me."

Or course, I don't assume anything without first talking to a jammer; there's always hope. They could simply be unfamiliar with the lingo. But empirically speaking, I haven't been wrong yet.

Here's an actual conversation that took place about a month ago at the session I host, as verbatim as I can remember it.

He: Hi, I really love this music. Are you here every week?
Me: Hi, thanks! Yes, there's a session here every week.
He: I love your guitar playing. I'm from [City X] and I play guitar, too.
Me: Oh, that's great. There's a lot of good Irish music and sessions in [City X]. Do you play Irish trad?
He: No, I play rock. Can I bring my 12-string guitar next week and jam with you?
Me: Well ... Do you know the tunes and the music?
He: No. But I play in a rock band and have a really good ear. Can I bring my 12-string guitar next week and jam with you?
Me: Well, this isn't really a jam. Everyone here has spent years learning the tunes, including the accompanists. And we're not improvising like a jam.
He: So I can't bring my 12-string guitar next week and jam with you?
Me: No, probably not, especially a 12-string. But if you like, you can come and listen. I'll introduce you to everyone. And I can show you some techniques and point you to some great resources to get you started playing trad guitar.
He: Why are you being so mean? I'm a really good musician. I just want to jam with you.
Me: I know, but this session doesn't really work like that.
He: Goddam @#$%^&*!!! [Walks out in a huff.]


I played with John Doyle at our local session last year. And yes, he can play lovely backup lines on guitar or mandolin. Or, for all I know, on bongos.

Oh, oops...

"Why are you being so mean?"

Ya know, outside of the pub that I play at, there's a little board that shows what's going on that week. It just so happens that our session is labeled "Irish music jam".

I think our pub in Long Beach does that to us sometimes, too. They're talking to the turistas on their way to the Aquarium or Convention Center, not the surly cognoscenti.

Session sounds like some kind of boring business meeting, and séisiún sounds like you're sneezing. Séisiún! Gesundheit!

Don't know where you're from but to me a session often refers to a protracted drinking event or prolonged sexual congress, only one of which is welcome at an Irish Music Session in my experience.