"Confidence or lack of it can make or break a performance and it should not be underestimated just how daunting it can be to perform in public or in front of musicians of much greater ability."

That is self-evident, but was always the case. Everyone who performs in public has had to face that when starting out. Even an experienced performer should still feel a frisson before facing an audience, and some would say that a touch of that helps to deliver a good performance.

The point is that in the old-style folk clubs it was clear from example that performing from songbooks or sheets was not an acceptable standard of performance. Aspiring performers knew they had to prepare themselves thoroughly. It isn't easy, but the only way to gain confidence is by standing up and doing it, and reading the words does not help with that. If you need a prop, then a discreet note taped to the guitar or held to be referred to only in an emergency might just be acceptable. Far better to learn and rehearse the song thoroughly.

When an evening regularly comprised a professional guest supported by expert residents (possibly semi-pro themselves) it set the bar high for other floor singers to aspire to. Most achieved it, or they wouldn't be invited to sing on guest nights. A singaround which accepts low standards encourages low standards - why bother to learn the skills when there is no need to?