I can memorize music reasonably well, though I expect I'm partly memorizing and partly playing by ear. I can't memorize verse at all and never have. It was the worst part of vocal competition when I was a kid, and still plagues me today. No lack of practice, 35+ years in choirs, reciting liturgy in church, playing "semi-pro" for 25+ years, and I still can't rely on my brain cells. Learning disability? Maybe.

In my case I believe my inabilities weren't helped by a period of drowning brain cells in beer, a major stress attack, and a couple of good sturdy blows to the head.

I use a stand, though I don't play to the stand, unless it's a one-off hired mercenary support musician type gig where I'm in the back line somewhere. I try to keep in unobtrusive, but I couldn't gig without it.

Peace, Mooh.