(and it definitely helps to move around a lot, its not good to stay in one position staring intently into one persons eyes.)
Our first gig at a big stage was very cool, i stared in the crowd (300-400 persons) but i couldn't see anything at all.
Big lights in my eyes prevented sight on the public, only once and a while i could get a glimpse of someone i knew. I started to play and we had enough room to jump around . At the end we played as in the rehearsel room.