When I see a band play that is using a word stand or a cheat sheet all I think is "lazy git couldn't be bothered to learn the words"
Our singer will use one if we are doing a first dance at a wedding and will never be doing the song again, but that's it.
I sing bv on nearly every song we do and lead vocals on about ten songs. The worst for me is "pencil full of lead" ..... "No ain't going down till the sun comes up" really dislike that song.
Someone said write the words down, very good tip
On a tricky song it can take up to two days of playing it on repeat every time I get in the car. And a few hours here and there in the house until my wife is sick to death of it !
But when you do learn you never forget it, I can go six months or more having not sang a song and then play and sing it off the cuff.
My keyboard player reads a song once and then never needs to look at it again, makes me sick
But if you use cheat sheets you will never learn it, just spend time on it, it will stand to you forever