Hey, perhaps we should start one of them BS:therapy threads?

The first Getaway I went to, I was TERRIFIED! But I knew I wanted to be with other people who love to sing, and was charmed by the invitation FSGW extended to this community.

I practiced the few songs that I was confident in singing alone for 8 hours in the car.

When I got there, it was Friday night, and a song circle had formed. I'd never even SEEN a song circle, let alone heard voices of that calibre. Didn't know who was who, but now realize it was mostly FSGW folks with a few 'catters thrown in. I can still remember the growing horror as the turn passed nearer and nearer to me, and I thought that any second I would have to leave the room to vomit. Then I sang my shaky, nervous song, and for the first time was lifted up by the sound of all those voices joining in. It's still not easy for me to lead a song, but I get better at it all the time, because I love to sing with you/them and that's the price of admission, right?

Then, there was the magical Mudcat Cafe the next day, the first gathering of Mudcatters (that I'm aware of) facing each other around a room, with a chance to sing what they wanted to introduce themselves with. I will ALWAYS remember pieces of that day: Barry singing "You Wouldn't Know It To Look At Me", Allan singing a lovely song in Portuguese with the gorgeous, driving guitar, too many others to name.

THAT was the beginning of any 'inner circle'. Just remember that the circle will open and grow every time someone pulls up a chair.

Dani