Will makes an important point - part of learning to be a singer is learning to cope with disasters - those dreadful moments when the next verse is looming and you haven't a clue how it starts, when your fingers get tangled in the accompaniment, when you start in the wrong key...

I was once complimented that I seemed never to forget the words. I thought, "If only you knew!" I have learned how to make up convincing words as I go along, strategically mumble where necessary, to throw in an instrumental break and make it look as if it was part of the arrangement. You don't learn how to do this if you have a crib sheet.

When I started out I used to do floorspots at one of the Cap'n's clubs, and I can confirm that crib sheets were hardly ever used and were generally frowned upon. There were no rules as such, simply our own self-respect as would-be performers.