I think there are lots of folks who are intrinsically shy for various reasons but can get in front of a group and somehow feel okay.

I am now and have always been ill at ease while in large groups of people (which I define as being more than three or four). I have no explanation for it. I suppose I could find something applicable in every part of Peter's list.

At some point I discovered that I could handle it as long as I had my guitar between me and them. The guitar was my shield and my singing was my armor. I was rarely very nervous at all during performances.

I have decided that it may have something to do with control. I am not generally one who is very much into control issues; but my way of dealing with crowds is to either perform for them or to avoid them. Mostly, I am forced to exercise the second option. But when I am performing for them, I have a certain amount of control over them. (That's my illusion and I don't want anyone to tell me otherwise.)

Another possibility is that playing and singing my songs gives me something comforting to do. It keeps my mind and my body too occupied with a pleasant task to worry about all of the people who surround me.

Also (and I just now thought of this) it puts me in the position of sharing a part of myself with others without having to deal with them directly.

I have gotten better over the years with being in crowds - barely. I would much rather spend the time talking one-on-one with somebody.