You know your music, you know your lyrics, and you've done the obligatory mini-show for your friends, relatives, and anyone else who would listen. Now it's time to step it up. You should be practicing every day, but watch how you practice.
The way you practice is the way you will learn the songs, so make sure you practice with as much energy and soul as you want to have onstage. If you are numbly running through the lyrics with no feeling at all, then that is how your song will come out onstage.
It doesn't matter how good you have it planned out in your head if you aren't practicing it that way.
Rockstar Tip: Practicing to a click track or metronome can help keep you consistant and groovy.
Stage presence
If you have never performed your own music, you are either excited or terrified. Want to take the edge off?
A good place to start is karaoke. Karaoke is a great way to break out of your shell and get wild in front of an audience. Karaoke and Open Mic gatherings usually are very receptive and kind audiences, so it's a great way to get loose and get used to performing in front of a crowd, even if it's only three people. A great performer should be able to get up and rock a three-person crowd as if it were a sold-out arena.
Confidence
Get your rock-star face on before the show. The audience will feel like a pack of wolves staring at you, if you let it. Swagger on-stage like a seasoned rock god and the audience will be ready for a good time. Side-step into the light like a guy who's never been on stage and they will be ready to boo you off, even before you hit your first note.