When we perform in public, people see how well we prepared. And whichever way we prepared becomes magnified.
It never fails.
You know those two measures that never quite fixed themselves, but you decided to gloss over them in practice?
When you perform in public, the two measures will escape your fingers entirely.
When we're well-prepared, it's a different story. Unexpected events during a performance become a minor inconvenience rather than a "fight or flight" situation.
When you prepare for anything. Be it a recital, a presentation, a job interview, asking for a raise, anything. Ask yourself...are there any holes in my preparation?
And if so, what would ten times worse than this feel during the "performance" itself?
Like Darth Vader and the Death Star, don't leave yourself exposed.
When in doubt, prepare.
Your future self will thank you.