I'm perfectionistic (which is a common trait in INTJs) and I hate to screw up onstage. I can manage well with singing, acting, speaking, dancing, anything that begins and ends with my body ... but I've always had tremendous stage fright when it comes to playing an instrument, since it feels like an alien object rather than an extension of my body. Accompanying myself does NOT come naturally to me, and no matter how much I practice, I can still screw it up when I "go live."

So it's important for me to remember that, in going from the printed word to its presentation, it's not the end of the world if I occasionally miss a chord change or hit some sour notes. It's okay for the audience to witness my learning process sometimes.

I've written all these great songs and I'm determined to get them out into the world. Thank doG for demos! I'm getting my multitrack recorder sometime this fall, I hope ... just waiting for the cash right now.