Right on......the thing that helped me the most to interact with an audience was my days as a disc jockey, about 15 years. I was not locked into a keyboard situation then.

Early on, playing keyboard, I got so bored, by necessity I started talking to my audience more. Then when DJ time came, the same thing. I got so bored with just standing there spinning discs, I started again interacting with my audience. Only this time, I could "leave my post" and go right out on the floor and mix with the dancers and folks who were seated. It wasn't easy, but the more you do it the easier it becomes. Interesting how detaching yourself from a keyboard also broadens your approach to playing and entertainment and music in general.

To be honest, I love getting in front of an audience and talking and playing......often bordering on doing a lecture. It's the power and the feeling that you're in control and that you're a somebody for 60 minutes that energizes you. Of course, after the performance you go back to being an unknown soul only useful for taking up space on the planet and using up valuable resources.