dying in public

This is an opportunity to share those death defying moments when you had a near death experience while reading your work in public. I'll start the ball rolling. About twelve years ago I belonged to a writing group, "The Highgate Poets". It felt quite prestigious as you had to be invited to join. I was one of the youngest there and probably the most working class. However before you start labelling me, right or wrongly, as too class conscious, I must add the other 20 or so members were a diverse and smashing bunch of vulnerable poetic types. I always imagined I was an intense individual but amongst this bunch I felt laid back. Every year the group had produced an anthology "Kites", and there was to be a reading at Southgrove in Highgate. The strange thing was I was used to performing in public as a singer songwriter and had got over, so I thought, first night nerves, but this was different, I was terrified! I was third on the bill to read, I had drunk a brandy miniature in a desperate attempt to steady my crumbling spine, all to no avail. I felt like I was literally shaking from head to foot as I read my two poems out, I honestly thought I was going to pass out, why! My parents kindly lied and told me they hadn't noticed my nervousness. One week later a review in the Highgate local paper, describing the evening, mentioned a few poets of promise, I was one of them. However, what slightly spoiled the highlighting of my poetic abilities was after mentioning my name adding, "obviously nervous"! Are there any more of you out there with similar or associated experiences?