Don't learn too many at once - Get two or three that you can remember and, more importantly, understand the sentiment, and then do them at different singarounds, singers nights or 'open mic's'. The trick is then to do the same with the next two or three - without forgetting the first lot and so build up a solid repertoire that you can remember.

When you get to the stage where there are a lot (A stage I have never arrived at:-( ) a set list could become important but make sure it is flexible. Nothing worse than going to a club with your 'set' firmly imprinted only to find some else has done two of your songs, there is one you cannot do because the landlady's dog has just died and the club is running a 'songs of the potteries' evening!

Oh - and if you are learing songs from a book don't do them alphabeticaly. For my first ten years at folk clubs I only sang songs beginning with 'A'... :-)

Cheers

DeG