I think this whole business of the informal "copyright" of a regular singer has respectable roots in the tradition: there was often an unspoken acknowledgement that if Fred always sang a particular song, Sid or Joe wouldn't sing that song in Fred's local haunts, and certainly not in his company. Many people still consider it courteous to observe this habit when they sing regularly with the same group of people. Obviously a visitor or new person to the group can't be expected to know what the regulars' favourites are.

I have found it a bit irritating when another singer asks me for the words of one of my special favourites, and then at the next session gets up and sings it in front of me. I think that's just bad manners and it's not something I'd do without some express encouragement from the person who gave me it.

Marje