Robbie, welcome to JPF.

I am shy by nature. I would try to stay in my "comfort" zone, and consciously made myself speak to strangers so I didn't appear aloof or unfriendly.

Music brought me out.

I learned to play guitar sitting in my bedroom and listening to recordings. I wanted nothing more than to play music. But my first few times on stage, I got stage fright. My hands shook. On one show, the lighting man turned on a strobe light ( a light that flashes quickly and produces a jerky effect) I got disoriented and ran off the stage. Still, I wanted to play more than I wanted to sit in my room. Gradually, I found that the stage became my comfort zone. While I had to force myself to speak to a few people in a room, I could get up in front of a hundred people and sing and tell jokes. Then I began teaching music, first in high school, later at an adult education music school and in college. That finally cracked the ice. For a while I would "turn on" the teacher/performer in social situations and then it didn't matter. I became just me whether alone, with another person, a few people, or in front of thousands. Thank God for music. My love for music was stronger than my shyness. Maybe it will be the same for you. Good luck and God bless.

Mike

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music