Unfortunately I've never been gullible enough to convince myself into anything I don't really believe in. No type of positive thinking, prayer or other form of internal process does anything for me. I know about breathing calmly and things like that. I already do that, but like I say... my body seems to have a nervous agenda of it's own. Of course... I can't even look my best friends in the eyes when talking to them, so that might be an indication of how uncomfortable I am around people.

Lot's of great ideas here from everyone. Paradoxically, considering my level of stage fright, I did at one point consider studying acting. Both since I have a film student background and in order to force myself to act in front of people. I used to read a lot of material on method acting and so on and even (over)acted in a few short student films. Somehow it was easier to put on a different persona and let loose than it is to be myself. But I eventually gave in to my anxieties and today I have to leave the room if someone pulls out a video camera.

Anyway... I'm convinced that you are all right about more experience and even more preparation is the key. On a positive note, my nerves also allow me to be 100% aware of everything both I myself and the surroundings do. That is important too. To be all there.

I still get stage fright, but it quickly fades after I get that first big reaction from the audience. I do my intro act to music and there's no dialogue at all...just some facial expressions and various gestures. As soon as I hear that first batch of 'ooooos' and 'ahhhhhhs' I calm right down, so by the time the intro ends and I actually introduce myself I'm cool as a cucumber Works for me!

I visualize myself having a great time performing. And it always works.

The moment I step on stage, the tension is gone and I am really having a great time with my audience.

Get some training in theatre or get a director to help you polish the rough edges and give you the confidence.
A little oriental spiritual trick to help you calm down...Take a deep breath and at the same time clench ur fists and take both hands,arms and forearms above the shoulder(preferably right side if you r right handed).Just pretend that you have (the undertaker or any WWW stars head in ur hands ) and then bring the hands across ur body as if you are throwing down the wrestler on the ground and do it hard using a lot of strength.At the same time let ur breath out forcibly and hum audibly and loudly.Do it 3-4 times before going on stage.The whole action is similiar to cutting downa tree with an axe.
The main problem I faced initially was that I either spoke too fast or my mouth becmae dry within a few minutes of beginning the act.

Great point - nervous people tend to speak either too fast or to loose the ability to clearly communicate

Tonight, at my local bar something entirely unexpected happened. I was sitting in my corner, sipping Cinnamon tea and reading my new memory system keywords that I somehow seem completely unable to recall even after weeks of practice.

Suddenly a loud guy my age (40ish) started doing magic tricks in MY bar of all places. The very bar where I have been struggling and failing to find the courage to perform in front of the few people that I know there.

This guy was loud and cocky. Sweating and moving fast he was aggressively trying to impress some younger looking guys and some girls that looked half his age. From where I was sitting I couldn't see any of the effects so I don't know if he was any good or not. I think he probably was. They were at least all clapping and cheering and he was so overly confident. And I found it so terribly... embarrassing to watch. It was just awful.

My first reaction was one of self loathing since I have none of that boasting loud mannerism. I will forever stutter and mumble my way through life. Yet I am glad that I don't fill an entire room with testosterone in less than five minutes.

The self loathing faded a little and gave way to general disgust. It was so... grotesque. The loudness, the exhibitionist attitude, the drunk guests... everything. It was like accidentally walking onto the set of a porno shoot. I found it completely unbearable. I tried to hide my notes in fear of someone seeing them and remembering that I had said something earlier about doing magic.

After a while he lit up a cigarette indoors. This is terribly illegal here. (It may have been a fake one tho, I couldn't see from where I was). He had completely taken over the bar now, ignoring the surrounding guests he was now hovering over with fast aggressive motions. The bartender in his early twenties looked nervous. The magician looked like a professional fighter. I left very quickly fearing some sort of showdown, promising myself that I will NEVER attempt to EVER do magic in a bar.

Nor will I EVER again go out on a Friday night (unless it's to one of those quiet all night cafés that only have introverted sober muslim taxi drivers on their breaks in them). This I swear.

I don't think I want to perform magic at all now.

There's a heartbreaking tale right there... don't let it end like that, Noobini.

Noobini, that was him. You are you. When you finally get over your nervous anxiety about performing in front of others, your performing style will be completely different from that of the obnoxious oaf that you described. It's very likely that he chose this demeanor in the hope that it would help him pick up women or to make himself look better than anyone else.

If anything, use this incident as a learning example of what NOT to do, then move on from there.

You are right guys. Having now slept on it I realize that I need to use the experience to my advantage. Since I never really liked parties or drunk people anyway, I am at least sure that a bar is not the proper venue for me. Different folks, etc. I'll be a coffee house magician or something like that in stead.

Thanks for your support!