So in the sense, me and my buddies joke around, but when asked to rap in front of people I just cant do it, yet when im at home/in the shower etc, i can mess around. Yet it is just soo hard to collect my thoughts in front of people. From what a friend told me, once you break that first time getting over it, it all just comes natural.

Any advice on this? I suppose this can also help in many ways with women, i.e. being able to sing in front of them, esp being cool enough to take them to a karaoke bar or something since they go nuts over guys who can single love songs.

tekryder,

I was in a similar situation a few years back. I had tons of trouble getting up and delivering speeches (I competitively debate). The only way that I broke my nervousness was by getting up there my first time and crashing and burning. it might sound harsh, but once you hit rock bottom the only place to go is up. Your buddy is right in saying once you break it then it will come naturally. You may not even do awful your first time but be rather decent, but no matter what after that first time all you will do is improve. So just go for it, it's the only way to get over the fear. Also, overcoming this fear greatly benefited my game because it gave me the confidence to talk to large groups or large sets. I'm sure it would help you similarly.

_________________
<Jac>

I am very interested in advice about this too.

I play drums in a rock band, I have been playing drums for years but still get very nervous on stage (my legs go weak too, which is not good for a drummer!!!)

I have done plenty of exposure, I read poetry at open mic nights, throw myself at karaoke, took singing classes (I can't sing, it was all for confidence building).

I am not at the point where I am not mentally nervous, I don't have anxious thought patterns, I am excited to be on stage, I adore the attention.
But I am still 'physically' nervous (my heart races, I sweat, my voice stumbles, my legs go weak... I fart...), my mental state is out of line with my physical state and it is infuriating!