Hiya Hiding. Oh can I relate. I was PATHALOGICALLY shy for years....absolutely no self-confidance, and simply terrified of school, dances, and a lot of other things. I discovered that you have to create your OWN environment...one that makes folks come to you, on YOUR terms. Maybe that's music for you...it was for me. Practice like the devil til you're BETTER than most, and then take a deep breath, and force yourself to play for others...JUST ONCE. Your shyness will start dissipating.

Folk music is absolutely FULL of shy people. Many of us went INTO folk and blues (rather than mainstream rock) 'cause we were too nervous, too shy, too fat, too smart, too skinny, too ugly, too short or too tall. Funny thing happens once you DO get into the folk community.....You discover that YOU"RE JUST FINE!

I'm pretty out-going now (in real life and on Mudcat) but put me in a room full of non-artistic folks, talkin' Condos and retirement plans and Monster Truck rallies (without my guitar) and I'll regress back to that shy guy REAL fast. Unless I'm playin for them (for pay) I just stay away from them whenever can.

So....get real good...jump in (even if it hurts) and see how good it feels. Folkie folks are the best.

Rick