There is nothing worse than forgetting the words to a song, I have a terrible memory when it comes to singing songs, so I take a song book/folder with me to a folk club, And I don't really care what other people think, if it helps me remeber songs then good. I sometimes look at the words and then it all comes back to me. However banging a gong if someone forgets the words to a song is terrible, I mean the person is already nervous and this just embarrasses them even more, and might put them off singing in public for good.
I meand we are supposed to encourage each other instead of humiliate them.
When I forget the words to a song I just stop and then let somelse take over.

Tom