Lyric sheets: the enemy within
Lyric sheets are killing folk clubs. They should be banned.
The three most common excuses
“My memory’s going.”
Hmmm. Learning a song is an excellent way of improving your memory.
“I get so nervous without them.”
You’re supposed to be nervous. Nervous energy is a fundamental necessity for performance.
“I haven’t got the time.”
There are no deadlines. Sing when you’re ready.
What’s wrong with lyric sheets?
It’s all about energy. The rigmarole of using lyric sheets:
- Creates false confidence in place of nervous energy.
- Drains energy away from the “performer”, the audience and the room.
- Squanders the opportunity to learn the words and become a performer.
The use of lyric sheets offers no recognition to those performers who do make the effort, do learn the words, and do not rely on an artificial repertoire.
This obvious lack of preparation betrays a lack of respect for themselves, the song and especially, especially, the audience.
Why do folk clubs tolerate them?
They believe lyric sheets enable less proficient “performers” to participate. They do — but they drastically diminish standards, deterring casual visitors from returning.
A ban need not, and must not, deter less proficient performers.
What will be gained? The holy grail
Raising the energy level will attract and retain new audiences, more than offsetting any errors that occur. Liberation from lyric sheets will:
- Eradicate an additional source of anxiety.
- Help control the fear of failure.
- Bring true confidence by fixing the song in the mind.
- Remain faithful to the oral tradition — learning the song by heart.
A folk club is a supremely unique musical venue
It is the only place for performers to hone material: a two-way conduit of energy between performer and audience. This doesn’t happen at an open mic. At folk clubs, folks come to listen — and to share an authentic experience.
What to do — recommendations for clubs
Amateur status · Professional attitude
- Learn your lines.
- Never book guests who use lyric sheets — especially those who sell product, and particularly if it’s original material. If they can’t be bothered, why should you?
- Give a sensible notice period — overnight — after which lyric sheets will no longer be tolerated.
- Silent protest: applaud all performers who don’t use them, and none who do.
A lyric sheet is not an effective prompt. It is just a focus of fear. No obfuscation.
Singing with a lyric sheet is practice. Without one it is performance — the lifeblood of any club.
Learn your lines.
