[alnico5]

I memorize 99% of the music and lyrics. I think everyone in my musical circle memorizes the music. Hardly anyone memorizes lyrics. They have paper or i-phone or tablet. I play with some very good singers. Without the words in front of them the set grinds to a halt. I've got to say that it looks a hell of a lot better if you can look at the audience instead of a screen. But situations vary. (I am referring to classic rock and country songs that may have been played by an individual hundreds of times; nothing super complicated.) In many cases I think reading the lyrics in performance is a habit hard to break.