At my regular club (Sharp's) we occasionally have someone reading the words. In one case it was a brand new song written by that singer, and that somehow seemed somewhat more acceptable, though of course one could argue that even in that case he should have waited until he had learnt it. In other instances I disapprove strongly -- but then I disapprove of a few other performances for one reason or another, but too few to spoil the evening as a whole.

If reading the words is commonplace at a certain club, then like Dick I would not wish to go there.