Thanks again, everybody, for all the good input...Since I have trouble with this even playing for friends, good friends, some of it at least must be plain old self consciousness, and I hope that the more I play in front of other people the less self-conscious I will be. I don't feel I always have to make contact...what I hate is being locked OUT of this connection by my own fear of looking someone, even fleetingly, in the eye.

Celtic Soul...your suggestion about making conversation w/small audiences before playing will be very useful I think, for working in rest homes.

If I can follow even half of the good advice here I'll be home free....