Yesterday evening, Odetta was confronted with the failure of her audience to fully grasp that American folk music is a participatory tradition. Displeased at the results of an attempt at a sing-along, she stopped her pianist short, and queried the audience:

"Where do we find ourselves this evening? Where are we situated?"

At length, someone in the audience said, Boston. Odetta replied, "Yes," in a tone that very much indicated that this was the wrong answer. She continued to scan the room.

At further length, someone else named the site --- the Berklee School of Music.

"That's right," said Odetta, repeating for emphasis, "a school of music".

Pause for effect.

"Y'all was terrible."

Things picked up after that.