I still contend that I've been in "song circles" that reminded me more of gerbils running around in one of those wheels in their cage...round and round, and getting nowhere, because someone is "stuck" at a point in a song they "know," and can't get past it!! Without finishing the song, they feel a sort of "songus interruptus," and so they're reluctant to admit that they just don't know it--and they plod on interminably, without ever making any progress. That, for me, is a much greater misery than that of using 'the book.'

I guess we all have to decide what makes us crazier!!

Of course, a song*writer's* circle is NOT a community sing or song circle; an open stage is not a community sing or song circle; a coffehouse is not a community sing or song circle...I think you get my drift. There are places I would NEVER drag out RUS!
(I use the terms community sing, song circle, sing-along, and song jam interchangeably, referring to a situation in which many folks who enjoy singing--but don't necessarily perform or sing solos--get together and SING. THAT'S what I think RUS was designed for...)

Any time I'm performing, I have my material committed to memory, of course--but when I'm asked to "moderate" a sing-along at a festival, I find that RUS is a big help with those requests that I'm familiar with, but have never performed or memorized. I also find that folks at a sing-along aren't disturbed by the fact that I don't have every song in the world committed to memory, chords and all. They just want to sing, and want someone up front who can lead them in their favorites.

(As for the "you did it WRONG!" folks, they exist everywhere, and they'll ALWAYS find a source to support their point of view. RUS can't be blamed for them--I heard folks saying that at the first "open stage" I ever performed at, back in 19xx, when I was about 10 years old. The "wrongers" predate RUS, and will still be around long after it's gone...)

Denise:^)