I was avoiding this thread because the heading looked too much like many I was sorry for wandering into lately.

I'd be glad to tell of my first public performance.

We had an all-school talent show where everyone was asked to get up and perform something. I sang a medley of Irish children's songs I learned off a Clancy Brother's album:A MAN OF DOUBLE DEED, WALLFLOWERS, AHEM, AHEM, SHELLICKY BOOKEY, A BIG SHIP SAILING. I believe the teacher may have nixed some rebel song. The troubled were resurging and there were descendants of Ulster Orange stock in the school(rural New England)and was asked not to sing that **** around here(no further comment).

I remember sweating so bad I thought I was going to melt away completely on stage. I also remember the seemingly deafening applause I got after I finished and the requests I got to sing on the bus for weeks afterward. I didn't realise until the day of the performance that I was to be one of the few people to get up and sing(as opposed to lip-synching with a record).

I still get stage fright when I have to perform, but it goes away when I start singing.

Brían