I think my fear of groups of strangers is the fear of being ganged up on, attacked, maybe lynched. As I see it, a group with no clear positive focus always has the potential to turn into a mob. Paranoid? Maybe, but I've had some bad experiences. However, when I was performing I discovered that the audience functioned as a single entity, not as a bunch of separate individuals. I could build rapport with that entity and then we would ALL be very comfortable. A side benefit: when I would finish my set, people would seek ME out for conversation. My set had served as a way for me to introduce myself without having to go through the discomfort of one-on-one fumbling with strangers. Years later, when I had been away from performing for many years and my natural shyness had reached neurotic proportions, I joined a song circle. I hoped to learn to be comfortable just sitting around singing with people I know and people I don't know, where there is lots of eye contact and no feeling of controlling a crowd. Each year is easier than the last.

Peter T, have we met? at Tony's house?

Bunny -- do you think of yourself as shy or not shy?