I actually use the audience as another instrument. I play for them, and I do not try to forget them. Last time I was in a tribute to George BRASSENS, the french singer, and I had to play an arrangement of a tune that's usually played by two guitars. A girl was supposed to sing, but due to stupid schedules I had to be by myslef, singing, AND fingerpicking the whole dang piece... There were those big lights that prevented me from seeing the crowd. I didn't see the words (I hadn't learnt them, since I didn't think I would sing...)and I started panicking... Well, I got out of it when I started doing this blues licks intro, totally out of context, and I heard the laughs in the audience...

Well, I almost didn't sound bad...:)