To the original poster, I am in the same situation. When I want some inspiration to keep practicing and have the courage to play in front of people, I think of this clip of Joe Walsh on Live from Daryl's House (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPV6nKrhOGg at 36:40). In the clip Uncle Joe talks about the importance of playing in front of people and gives us permission to be awful as long as we work at begin "less awful."