I tend to agree with Acorn4’s list, although the best clubs/sessions/singarounds seem to be those where those guidelines (rules) are just generally understood on the basis of good manners and respect for the songs.

The ‘not learning the words’ trend (I call it a trend because I can’t remember any club or session from the 60s and 70s where it happened), which has raised its head here, seems to have a ‘critical mass’ aspect. In singarounds and clubs where the regulars set the example of knowing and respecting their songs, newcomers soon see what’s expected of them and follow suit. If too many think it’s OK to read the words then it becomes the norm and soon nearly everyone is doing it - including the younger generation to whom we geriatrics should be setting a better example. That seems to change the whole atmosphere of a club.

My own, very biased view is that I go out to sing songs and it’s the songs that are important, not me. If I hadn’t bothered to learn the words it would seem to be more about me getting an opportunity to sing than about the song getting the respect it deserved. It depends on whether you see the clubs as about keeping the spirit of the songs alive or as care in the community places where people can go out and be noticed for a few minutes. There’s room for both but I know which I prefer to go to.

(I’m embarrassed to admit that twice in the last 2 months I’ve forgotten the words of a song that I started. True, I've sung quite a lot of songs in that time (74 different ones) but that’s no excuse. I’ve decided I’ll have to sing less or choose and practice particular songs before I go out if this is what old age brings but what I won’t do is start to read the words – but that’s just me and my choice: chacun a son gout