The most effective and least damaging of "us" goes into the process with:
A.) Some degree of knowledge regarding the person(s) and/or the music one is dealing with. [e.g. - having the Willie Walker on tape when Bastin and I met Baby Tate opened many doors for us];
B.) A major degree of respect for the individual(s) one meets, not being aggressive and know-it-all;
C.) Keeping an open mind and not being ruled by the so-called "accepted wisdom" floating about "our" community - letting things go where they may. This last is often the most difficult!
Today the process is greatly different from the '70s as there are "new" sources of information that were either non-existent when we were out and about, or banned to us as we were not family. [I tried to get my freckles to group together, but, alas...] The Wiley/Thomas piece demonstrates much of this info.
oddenda/Peter B.