I started out singing and playing solo, for tips, out on the streetcorner. I had been playing at home (at a sort of communal hippie pad ~ this was back in 1970), and my housemates kicked me out with instructions to play on the street and not come back until I had collected some change.

It was scary, and for the first few hours I wasn't able to make myself sing; I could only play "instrumentals," and really wasn't a good enough player to pull it off. But I envetually broke the ice for myself and pretty quickly began to enjoy my new "job."

The busker's "audience" is different from any other performer's. Those who don't want to listen just walk on by and ignore you ~ it's very unusual to be heckled or confronted in any way. The few who are interested enough to stop and listen provide a one-hundred-percent positive experience ~ even though there might be only one such individual at a time, and only one or two per hour.

Getting used to the scrutiny of actual live listeners starts out as a gradual process, but I think you'll be surprised at how quickly you become tolerably comfortable with it. Sounds like the performance venue you stumbled upon is very low-key and forgiving; the people there just want to enjoy themselves and each other, and they are inviting you to be part of their little scene. Have fun!