In my usual shy and self-effacing manner I'd like to add a few points.

I have a 'catalogue' of fifty-or-so songs that I can 'do', using five different guitar tunings. It's a lot to remember - especially when you're an old fogey like me. So I have my 'safety-net' in front of me, for reference should I dry. I wish, oh how I wish, I could remember them all but I can't, and no amount of pressure from pontificating folk-nazis is going to change that. Should I be denied the pleasure of performing simply because some intolerant tit regards forgetfulness as a crime?

Professional performers as a rule do around twenty songs, give or take, in a performance. They forget words too, and are readily forgiven by their admiring audiences - why then can't the same forgiveness be afforded to the enthusiastic (and probably scared shitless) amateur?

Personally I don't care whether a performer memorises or reads his/her songs, it's the performance that matters. I've heard some great performances by readers and some pretty poor ones done from memory.

Bye guys,
JB