I claim I perform because I have to. (I have grown to like it. But crowds still scare me.) I am trying to get exposure for my material. Exposure means somebody has to play it. When I want to know who's going to play it, I am forced to look in the mirror.

And yes, it is a good test of what's "good," and one I'm not sure I could replicate any other way. It's "good" if people ask for it again. For that to happen, they have to hear it the first time. Haven't figured out a way to do it other than to perform it.

Joe