How to get the guts to perform in front of people?

I know this might sound like an odd question, but I want to save up the money for a new iPhone and maybe a mac mini so I can design and make an iPhone app for the app store. I need about 599 for the mac mini and 500 for the iPhone.

I was thinking of performing in downtown Portland OR with my hapi drum (for those who don't know what a hapi drim is just look it up on youtube, they sound amazing). I see street performers all the time downtown at pioneer square and the saturday market performing with their guitars and others beg for money, I don't like begging, so I thought of performing and see how much I can get off tips. What I figured is if 100 people give me $1, well I made $100 off tips. If I make enough money, than I will buy an iPhone and a mac to design my own app, and if its good enough I may charge 0.99 or $1.99 if I can design a good enough app. My plan is to make an under the table income outside of my job.

The problem I have is having the guts to actually perform in front of a crowd of people. I fear of what others might think of me. Any suggestions on how to get over my fear of performing in front of a crowd?

Concentrate on what you are doing, not on the people around you. Your fears will melt away and you will be able to perform your best. The people who hang around to hear you play are enjoying it, and they will not be thinking bad things about you at all.

Everyone has this fear. It is very uncommon for someone not to be scared of performing or speaking in front of strangers. Just start small. The smaller the crowd the less nervous you are. So just perform in front of your friends, then slowly build the group bigger and bigger.

Another thing to do is if you take part in some kind of debating or public speaking. I know they sound lame but they do help you with your confidence and also teach you a lot of other stuff.

I personally got involved in cadets. It has taught me so much and my confidence in terms of speaking in front of a large group has risen immeasurably. I used to shake when I presented in front of my class, now I can address my whole year group with out a problem (around 300 people).

So really the only way to overcome your fear is to put mind over matter. You just have to do it, baby steps first and then it will just get easier for you.