Here's two more cents --

I have had some experiences like yours An... and I symathize... It is so shocking. I have found that the biggest culprit pitch robber is reverberation. You know, that reflected sound... I use a little of that reverb in my voice and guitar, cause I realy like te way it sounds. However, when I first started using it, I found that I tended to vere flat, especially if I was tired, or not used to the material. Many sound techs will use reverb in order to make the performance 'richer' sounding, and most rooms have it naturally. If you can practice with a digital one, or record yourself in the shower, or a big empty room, do it! Then listen carefully.

The next thing is that it's important to record yourself from time to time, to hear how you are coming across. I for one, get so into my singing sometimes, that I forget to hear my pitch right then... and if it wasn't recorded, I won't ever get to hear it...

Lastly, we often can not hear ourselves with the same critical ear we are performing with... at the same time. Once again, recording can help. If you can find a cheap little tape recorder (or a fine minny disc recorder for all that!), just turn it on when you are going to sing anyway, and set it somewhere convenient. Though the recording will likely be of inferior quality, it will provide you with a perfectly usable reflecting pool... There's a little bit of Narscissus in all of us performers...?^) ttr