I agree with George - to me, going to see a concert, or a booked paid performer, is a very different experience to a singaround. I would be disappointed if I went to see a fave artist at a formal or semi-formal gig and he sang with words - unless, he made something very special of it. On th eother hand, going to a singaround, where people are, as George said, sharing songs, offering something they may be working on, or whatever, is a different thing altogether and I don't see any problem with books, slips of paper or whatever in that context.

I know that classical musicians and opera singers often have music in front of them but I really do't think it is comparable - nor do I think they have it because they don't know the words. It's just a different way of presenting the music - thier version of sticking a finger in the ear, so to speak.

I know that, had I ever been fortunate enough to see Frank Sinatra sing New York or My Way and he had had a bit of paper in his hand, to prompt him, I would probably have felt a bit short-changed.