Preparation, What do you do ????

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

If I am going to work with an artist that is new to me , or a new band my M.O. is to get a hold of the Idiot sheet/set list sus out the ones I don't know and make up a you tube playlist pref by the original performer and just sit here and woodshed till I have cracked as near as I am capable of doing... however, this all turns to didly squat when you go to an informal gathering of wanna be jammers as I did today and completely destroyed a beautiful Vern Gosdin number "Chiseled in stone" by following the singer, not playing 4/4 or 3/4 no no NO! 3.5/4 and miss a bar and a quarter off the end of each delicate phrase....
I will be licking my wounds for some time

[Zebedee]

I was in a 'club' band from the mid 70's to the early 80's, with a band rehearsal twice a week to learn all the new songs in the charts.

I started playing country music in 1982, and have barely rehearsed since, just winged it for 30 years