This is decent advice for people whose music isn't interesting enough to stand on its own, though.

Yeah my high school got this Berklee guy who basically came in like he was king shit and took over the music program, and he totally sucked compared to the old guy who they ousted, who mainly conducted the jazz band at that point but at one time was also the drummer for the Supremes. If you've seen Whiplash, imagine that guy but really passive aggressive and fat and a dumb fucking idiot who knew nothing about jazz. He kicked me out because I played Bassoon, because Bassoon doesn't belong in a jazz band.

Um yeah it does you fucking asshole, ask my mentors:

http://bassoonbrothers.com/

One thing I will say for Berklee is that my high school drum teacher went on to chair their percussion department, and he was a good guy.

I grew up singing Opera so I was usually singing for 3,000 people a night, which never bothered me. But when I was later in bands playing to ten or so people that was when the anxiety kicked in, and I'd drink before the show until the anxiety went away. Which means I couldn't play the keyboard that well. One night I was so drunk that I just walked off the stage and just went over to the bar, drank some and missed two songs and got back up and finished the set. Luckily the rest of the band are fierce alcoholics and thought it was cool, as we were basically getting paid in beer and pizza at that point, but it was the only way for me to avoid a nervous breakdown.

As long as I trust the musical judgement of the people I'm playing with, being on stage is when I have the least anxiety.

Drinking helped and thankfully I knew where the line was. A few beers was perfect to loosen me up. Playing music and bowling... two things that are definitely improved with a few beers for me.

I think my biggest concerns were A) where do I look? and B) I don't want anyone to look at what I'm playing because I'm concerned that maybe it's too simple. I don't know. I'm a weird dude.