I have been playing music for most of my life, and have been playing on stage for just about as long. From solo violin bits at weddings to playing bass guitar with a death metal bands in basements and bars .... I have been through my share of performances.

You need to play because it's fun. If people keep telling you that you are good, great! I always doubt my playing ability, but when I have a general rule that i never believe anyting until I hear it from three different people. Sometimes I play like shit and I have a bunch of people come up and say it sounded great, when I knew I shat the bed. At that point the question becomes what matters more? Your oppinion, or the oppinion of others?

So who do you play music for? yourself, or others? Are you trying to impress yourself with your own music? Good. Then practice until you bleed and dont give a fuck about what other people say because not everyone will like it. Put enough passion into it, and people will be drawn to what ever you do.

Play music for others? Good. talk to people who you trust and who are knowable about music. Practice, until you bleed and respond to your audience. Music is a message, but it is also a translation of your emotions to the audience. The true talent of a musician is to make something that both reflects their passion and translates that passion into a sound that is accessible to others.

Music is probably some combo of both these aspects. So work hard, and play strong.

ARS.