This sounds like a boilerplate response from the organisers. It *is* distracting and impolite for people to be going through notebooks/songsheets/iPads whilst someone is singing and I see it a lot in singing sessions more and more. It's rude plain and simple and demonstrates that the person doing that isn't listening to the singer.

I know you Joe, and you *are* a gentleman. Their use of the word "discourage" is appropriate I think as Howard stated above.

I don't like rules in sessions, either. To me, sessions are community-oriented activities and if someone is using a tool to help them participate, so be it and I have no right to judge that person or question their reasoning.

Debra Cowan