I rarely read the music when playing, but if I don't have it, I really miss it...sort of a crutch I guess. I use a combination of memorizing and reading music, so, I guess it works for me.
Ian
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. I prefer to have a lead in front of me, just in case... I get easily distrated -ADD?. Sometimes I might forget a chord, melody or lyric so it's nice to have a chart. I wish I was one of those guys that could play everything from memory....
Also like you Ian, I just have photo copies of the tunes I do in some notebooks. I know that's old school and I suposse I'll update to some sort of electronic notepad someday.