hesperis, that is a wonderful description of the forces at work. I've saved it and will print it out for a musician friend to read; I think it will help us both.

See, this mandolin player friend is as bad as I about solo (or even duet) playing. We meet once a week and work out tunes and songs and arrangements on the mandolin and guitar; we enjoy it a lot and sometimes we are very pleased with how we sound.

But then comes my Friday night song circle and he and I will do one of the songs/tunes that we are pleased with - and fall all over it. It is absurd, we are so much alike. We haven't found an answer yet. Keep in mind that we're among friends... Grrrrrrr.

In a group, onstage or off, I'm fine. I enjoy it and I like the adrenalin rush. By myself, the adrenalin overwhelms me.

The strange thing is that I can speak to a large group without a problem. I'm energized and up and excited beforehand, but I do fine. It's just creative things I can't handle.

Got any more techniques to share, anybody?

Thanks for the thread, BobS!

Ebbie