This is a classic mudcat thread, don't you think. To sum up: What I am hearing is a lot of people that feel it is unprofessional to use a stand while singing, but many are ok with a cheat sheet that you glance at, unobtrusively. Others feel they need the stand or want to use it because they want to be able to choose from a zillion songs that they know.

So... it is not really about the stand per say, is it?

It is really about the venue, type of performance, and how big a repertoire you want to bring to the gig. In a casual circle - anything may go - why restrict ourselves. You know your scene. Also, reading may be very different than an occassional glance or carrying a book for reference off stage.

However, let's face it. If you are seeking to professionally present and are being paid, it is best to know your material well enough to sing it without reading. Who would really dispute that? It might be ok for your favorite famous person to read their song, but what is your choice for your not-so-famous self? For those of us seeking to be professional, maybe only in a very local way, why not reach for this level of excellence? It might be worth rethinking our use of a stand. For those of us who have decided we want to use it, we are putting something between ourselves and our audiences. It is trade off. A zillion songs or just the 12 we ran through on the way to the gig. It is a choice.

Claire