I have posted this over and over, and every time it kills the thread which then sinks to the bottom. I, too, hated the feeling that I was making people feel embarassed watching me make a fool of myself trying to perform...if they could only hear me when I am playing at home!

1. Go to www.soloperformer.com. (I have no commercial interest in nor affiliation with the site nor Steve Rapson). There are some good articles there, but I really encourage you to purchase the book Art of the Solo Performer. I can't say enough about this little book - chock full of ideas as well as images of yourself, both now and what you could be. I think the book is about $20. Keep it handy and read it over and over.

2. Play live on-line. I used Paltalk for years (not so much these days - too busy playing out). There are live music rooms on Paltalk where, when it is your turn, you open your mic and play for all to hear - generally 10-25 people or so. (But they can't see you) I always thought of Paltalk as a kind of half-way house for performing musicians. You will definitely be nervous at first, but you will quickly get used to it. In then end, you will have learned how to perform a song.

Keep playing live as much as possible...open mics are a good way. Go to alot of them until you find one that feels comfortable...then keep going. You will soon become a regular, and all will be right.

dw