Wish I'd known about that hot-water trick back in high school. Thanks Les!
My hands would go ice cold from nerves, and I was supposed to play a solo on the piano. At two separate concerts I struggled through the pieces, messing up all over the place. Most of the audience didn't even care about my mistakes, but they hadn't heard me do it well! The other students were like "what do you mean you were nervous! I was nervous, not you! You looked completely cool up there!" And my teachers were all asking me what the hell happened.
I hate cold. My muscles don't work properly, I can't feel the keys sensitively enough... Arrgh!
Yeah, next time I have to play in public, I'm soaking my hands in HOT WATER first!