I use a laptop for music and/or lyrics both at home for practicing and on the gig.

On the gig most of what I play is memorized, but we have over 500 songs in our book. For songs that are new, or haven't been played in a while, the music/lyrics is a good reminder (I don't need to have my nose buried in it, just enough to jog the memory).

Also, on the gig, sometimes while we are in the middle of a song, someone will come up and try to talk to a band member. I guess they just don't understand how difficult it is to talk while singing and/or playing. Since we play to backing tracks that I make myself, we cant vamp 'till cue, but the track goes on, unaware of anything but it's purpose. Then even in the songs I have absolutely memorized, it's good to have the cheat sheet to get me back on track after the distraction.

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