I think the true professional is the person whose mistakes appear to be a part of the arrangement. I'd better say the professional quality because I know there are many armatures that are so good that they could be pros if they chose to live the life. The life ain't easy because like it or not it is a very competitive life. And it takes every edge you can develop to be a success as a touring performing musician and singer. The bar is awfully high.
        In the 20 some years that I have been going to Old Songs I remember only one single stage performance where sheets were pulled. These were shape note singers working from The Sacred Harp.   In the work shops for instrumental playing and shape note and ballad singing every one worked from the same sheets because it was efficient as a learning tool. Song sheets and books were used in the sing a round's at The Dutch Barn and in the group sings in the camps. But on the stage I can't recall a single individual, duo, trio, quartet who relied on sheets other than the Shape Noters .
        I'm sure you have seen Martin Carthy and The Copper Family and Elvis Presley using song sheets on rare occasions. At their level of performance no one is gonna tell them they can't. I am not at that level of the business and probably never will be.
        I'm still scrumming for gigs in the locals with the locals so I'm after every edge I can get. When I'm set up in a saloon and singing with Two Feet Short it is just Jim and I. We know the others moves so well we make the same mistakes at the same time. We don't use sheets because we don't need to. We can second guess the others next move. If I'm looking at a book I'm not flirting with the girls at the bar. I want to be remembered as the Dirty Old Man with nice voice and easy smile, not the bald head only seen over the top of a book. In my case competing with the young guys with the Dave Mathews style I need all the help I can get.
       I'm not trying to explain why people shouldn't use note books and sheets, I am explaining why I don't.

Don