Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Dear Abby, I perform in a musical duo and my partner is convinced he's a good singer. How do I burst his bubble?

Your relationship with this partner isn’t social; it is BUSINESS. He is in denial about his limited abilities. Bursting his bubble by enlightening him that his singing is holding you back will not endear you to him.

His new girlfriend recently confided to me that she feels he shouldn’t sing because it is damaging to our joint reputation and to my own as a musician. She doesn’t know how to tell him or whether she should.

I am a male singer and guitarist who has been playing in small local venues most of my life. My new duo partner is a nice person and decent multi-instrumentalist. The problem is that he cannot — and should not — sing,