Julie, you are probably more hesitant than you need to be. We're all just people, with varying levels of skills in different areas of our lives (including musical technique). Go ahead and chime in whenever you want -- most of us won't judge you for it.

Regarding this thread, I don't necessarily equate "giving the audience what they want" with communication. I often play for audiences that want me to do old pop tunes that they've heard a zillion times before, and the closer I can get to how it sounds on the record, the better. I often wonder what they need me for -- why not just listen to the radio? When I give them what they want, I'm really not communicating a thing.

I also think a little self-indulgence in a performer is a good thing. I would rather hear a performer reach deep into his or her own soul, than play it safe on the assumption that this is really what I (the audience) want. If the performer fails to connect, so be it -- at least he/she tried to give me something I couldn't get elsewhere.