Reflections on my first public performance at the Oro Valley Farmers' Market on 22 October 2005:
Whew! I'm still alive, and my shorts are still white! 
OK, where to start?
I spent most of yesterday putting some practice into the songlist and attempting to arrange it in some kind of logical order (I didn't want to retune between every song, or do all the G tuning songs, then all the C tuning, etc.). Then I drew up a checklist so I wouldn't forget anything when I packed this morning.
Left the house just after 0930, and arrived at the market around 15 minutes later. I checked with the manager, and was told to pick a spot and set up. I found a nice shaded place just on the outskirts of the market, and put up my chair, put out the tip jar (and some business cards), pulled out the Good Time and checked the tuning (I had tuned before leaving the house, so just a little touchup).
Then, my mind went blank 
. Keeping my cool, I dug out my playlist and looked at the first song on the list. Oh, yeah, I picked "Cripple Creek" to open with. I figured it was the first song I learned, so it should lead off. It also is simple and fairly fast while requiring just enough concentration to take my mind off of the surroundings.
"Well, that went alright! Nobody is running screaming from the area, there are a couple of folks over there still eating their pastries, so I can't be that bad!" I thought.
I started playing my way through the list, and was enjoying myself! Not too self-conscious, but not as comfortable as I am at home playing in the bedroom or on the porch (that was expected). I found that I was flubbing up a little more often than I usually do, but that, too, I had expected.
After about 30-45 minutes, the manager came by and told me I should have set up more into the market. We had a good discussion about why I had picked the spot I did, and agreed that next time I will be more in the market. He said that they pay musicians to perform, and I would be heard by more people if I moved into the market. I explained that this was the first time I had played in public, and felt comfortable where I was today, but next time I will set up inside. I told him that I was not expecting to be paid this time, and would make arrangement to come back. When I next glanced at the watch, I had been pickin' for an hour and a half! My how time flies!
All in all, I enjoyed the morning, had a few people actually come by to hear me, and gained a lot of confidence! I'm looking forward to going back (But I will be practicing a lot harder).
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