lagartija wrote:.......
As for my anxiety, I know I can get up and speak in front of a large crowd without nervousness. But I have been speaking for 56 or so years and only playing guitar for two! So my confidence in my playing is not nearly as well developed as in my speaking abilities. ...
Thats very true

Enough time spent with the guitar, and with successful enjoyable, confidence building results, both alone and in front of people, then playing
should gradually catch up with speaking (to an extent

). Even so despite speaking expertise over years we can still sometimes get tongue tied when stressed or tired
A nice quote from cellist Yo Yo Ma
My favorite way is to imagine that I'm throwing a party. When I'm on stage, I'm the host. Everybody wants to have a good time. If something falls apart, that should not ruin or affect the totality of the time spent at a party. Because something is always going to go wrong. If you get really hot and bothered about it, it's going to affect a guest's enjoyment—and your own. So let things go! Also, we live a life where we're constantly being judged. The point of performing is not being judged—it's about sharing things. But you need to have something to share that you think is really worthwhile. If you're convinced of that, then you find the technique to make that possible.
http://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/0 ... ng-me-home