Knowing it won't hurt you, and it could help you.

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

The more abilities you have in your arsenal is always a good thing. Playing by ear is a definite must,but learning theory helps develop that ability also. It used to be if you did any session work you had to be a good sight reader,its been awhile for me so I'm not so sure about that anymore.But it definitely helps to learn it you'll find sometimes if you get a melody in your head or come up with a riff you dont want to forget having the ability to write it out comes in handy.

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Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancin'

then dont set limits on yourself, learn all you can starting with a high quality book a good guitar player once suggested, "Matt Smiths Chop Shop".
its a great book, easy to read and understand. cheap too off amazon.
i suggest you read the book all the way through first before you start the lesson plan.
comes with a CD and the lessons have answers to check yourself along the way.
Danny Duke is working his way through this book with Mrs Duke right now too.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

My late entry to this topic: I don't read music any more than being able to tell the key of a song, and it's my opinion that theory is hugely important when it comes to the guitar, even more important for the beginner/intermediate guitarist. That being said, I believe there's a point most guitarists will reach that learning to read sheet music will be required to allow for any more improvement past that point. I know there have been many times that I have wished I knew how to read music. So I bought myself a book, and when I get the motivation up, I'll actually learn.
btw...I was the guy that for years said it wasn't really necessary to learn to read music; needless to say, that opinion has changed.

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tim i think a lot of the times when folks break down and realize that they need to get involved with theory and some reading to at least some level, their playing level has reached a point that they come to a cross roads and need to start thinking just want they want out of their playing and to what level do they want to take it. when they answer those 2 questions only then will they pick which direction to go at those cross roads.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

I gotta agree with that. I've always known some theory as far as what notes go with what, all the chord triads and such, I've got a Frederick Noad book I heard was a good one (Solo Guitar PLaying) so I'm going to go through that one cover to cover, and hopefully it'll fill in some holes in the theory I know, as well as really help me learn to sight read. I've always wanted to be able to look at a piece of music and play it, but was too stubborn to admit that playing by ear wasn't the be all end all of playing guitar.

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Check out my new FB music page!

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the thing with sight reading, you should set a goal to be able to sight read to no greater than your personal playing level. follow me?
im still struggling with it too myself. after talking with you so much you need to get better
knowledge of theory. you have plans and ideas. you will one day find yourself in a situation where its all gonna come full circle and you'll be glad you took the time to learn it tim. you have the desire to write and play, theory knowledge will only better you for what you goals are for sure.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

The best time to learn sight reading is when you first start out. I'm not saying it's ever too late, but I think it's just much easier when you start out knowing nada. It's not just reading notes and charts. Even people who don't play an instrument can do that, it's putting a feel and a style to the music you're reading. I'd like to learn someday, right after I learn and remember all the chords in my fatass chord book.
The fact is, sight reading can open a whole world of opportunity in the music field. If you're happy playing in dives and playing the same set lists that everyone else plays and doing the same covers night after night, that's great. I wasn't. If it wasn't for being in some original bands way back, I think I would have quit. But playing by ear will only get you so far.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

The time I saw the biggest improvement in sight reading was when I taught.

Because I needed to be able to sight read.
When I wasn't teaching, it was easy to blow it off.

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.