Peter, you have a good hmmmmm there.
I use to do a great deal of lecturing to the public. In the beginning, I was nervous and uncomfortable. If I lost my audience, it was because I had to be completely focused on my materials just to get through the lecture. As I became more comfortable with my presentations I was then able to be more aware of my audience and read their needs better. Maybe with musicians this kind of thing also comes with time and experience.

BB