Do We Really Sound as Terrible on Stage as We Sometimes Think We Do?

Ever notice how after performances, your family, friends, and teachers seem to think that the performance went better than you thought it went? Is this just because they're being nice, or is this a real thing? As in, is there something about being on stage that makes us perceive our own playing differently than how others perceive our playing? Do We Really Sound as Terrible on Stage as We Sometimes Think We Do?* * *BTW, have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better ...