We all want people to like us. It would be wonderful if people would fall all over us after a performance, saying such things as, "marvellous, wonderful, fantastic, great show, what a great voice, you are a tremendous instrumentalist, etc." I think most of us already know how our performance went. We can tell from audience response during our performance. Are they truly listening? You can tell if you just watch and listen. And, you are not going to be mobbed after a good performance, but you'll know how you did when people approach you (or don't) afterward.

It's natural to ask someone who is close to us about our performance. They are not going to hurt us. They'll be gentle. But, it's probably not the best guage of how we did. More than anything, the love of performing will sustain a performer. There will be off nights, but that just makes us try harder.

Jim