Please forgive the thread creep, but Rick, I understand the feeling of playing new songs ... I struggle a bit with my new songs, for seveal public playings ... I have never been able to loose this feeling, either. I have found two tricks that help me; 1) I tape the song and play it over and over to myself as I drive (usually singing, sometimes refining lyrics or even rearranging) 2) I just jump in and 'damn the torpedos' - but usually at a safe place, like a small club or jam session. I find that it takes a bit of time to learn to perform my own songs!

In fact, of a bit more thread creep can be allowed; as I age I find I take much longer with new songs 'off-line' before they appear in my performances. Not just my own songs, but when I learn a new song, I spend more time with it then I used to ... before I add it to my repertoire. I like to think I'm just more careful, but it might just be that I'm a slower learner! I also think that the several years I spent out of the performance world has left some 'scar' in my performance abilities.

Sorry for the continued creep ....