Perhaps the thing to do is address it, head on. Get a piece of paper and write down a list of the individual acts that you have to perform in order to make up your 'act', and put it on the road.

Leave free the things you enjoyed doing. Write a cross next to the things you felt comfortable doing. Two crosses next to the part where your anxiety started rising. Three crosses next to the plain intolerable parts.

then think your way through it. Is there anyway to minimise the power of the shit bits. Is there anyway you can maximise the good bits - so they are like a life raft you are swimming towards in the evening.

How many people would notice if you did an evening of the good bits. Perhaps its gods way of telling you to change your act, perform more to your strengths. The audience generally pick up on the fact that you feel relaxed and are playing well within your capabilities, and the feeling that you know what you're doing.

I don't know if this makes sense to you, or is helpful. i hope so. Feel free to e-mail me if you need to talk about it more privately. goole bigalwhittle and my name and e-mail come up on the contact details page.