I think that television could be the reason people don't gather to sing in the living room...or porch... People use to have to get more creative for entertainment. I also think that the reason people don't use their porches as much may have to do with A/C. I could be wrong.
We use our deck a lot. In fact, almost every day I play my uke outside on the deck, either in the front, or the back. I was on the front deck playing and singing the other day, and a young woman walked by and commented, "I wish you were my neighbor." I don't know if it was genuine, or if it was sarcasm, but I always take the positive interpretation of things people say, when I can. My next door neighbor is a young single grad student, and he always has friends hanging around in the afternoons. Sometimes when I am out on the back porch playing and singing, they are out there in his back yard as well. They never say much to me, but they don't seem to mind it either. He did tell me one day that they were having a bunch of people over to watch the Iowa vs Iowa State game, and that I needed to come over and do a half time show. Maybe he was kidding, maybe not.
But when I think about it, most of my neighbors are outside a lot. Maybe we are not the norm, but especially in the summer, everybody is out on their decks, or walking around the neighborhood. The neighbor on the other side of me has a pool, so they are out all the time. I especially hear their kids out there. One thing though, I'm retired, and I usually try to be done playing and singing before people start coming home from work. I'm not sure if they would appreciate my music while they are getting ready and eating supper, and especially if it was competing with whatever they are trying to listen to in the evenings.
This spring, when I started singing a lot, I was a little self conscious about singing outside, where someone might "hear me". I've gotten over that though. I think that just singing and playing outside is a good step for those who are shy about singing in public. It is putting yourself out there, but not playing directly to someone. I started out singing quietly, but I've been singing louder as time goes on. I discovered that when all else fails, belt it out, so I've been doing exactly that lately. Anyway, having done some singing and playing in public this summer, I've gotten better about the stage fright. But the other night when we were making smores, We didn't get going until eight thirty, and we went until close to ten, and we weren't real quiet about it. I'm sure someone had to be saying, "the old folks have finally lost it".