Performing Improvisations

[quietnoise]

Hi,
I was wondering how one would go about performing improvised piano for an audience?
Improvisation is my first love and I consider myself to be quite proficient at it, but it frustrates me that i can't perform for anybody other than family. I improvise in the classical idiom mainly, but not exclusively. I'm self-taught and I'm pretty introverted when it comes to things like this, and I can't promote myself to save my life.
Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks

Steve

[Derek]

Man, the world is really burgeoning with new improvisers these days isn't it? That's exciting. Well, I don't know the answer to your question because I don't perform for anyone, not yet anyway. Do you record? That's the next best thing, because then you can share your music with anyone you please whenever you please. And, it has the advantage that you can show people music that you would only create while alone, which may reveal some of your best musical thoughts. Even performers such as Glenn Gould felt this way, recording existing repertoire. The "womb like security of the recording studio."

[ted]

Improvising in front of people is dead easy for me these days. The trick is to simply play for yourself. In particular, the inclination to impress has to be eliminated. Just respond to your sound as usual and let the audience take it or leave it. In any case, most people wouldn't have a clue whether you are improvising or just playing a piece they don't know. On the other hand, playing pieces in front of people scares me stiff, even my own pieces, silly as it seems.