two things have always worked for me.
Get to the gig early and while your setting up, do as much "mingling" with folks in the crowd as you can. Even if it's just getting eye contact and a nod or hello. Sometimes that will get them talking to you. Believe it or not, they want you to do well too, and getting some chatter and common ground with your audience will go a long way towards that. This also includes waiters, waitresses and anyone that works in the establishment...get them on your side and they'll be telling the audience/customers that you are "pretty good!"
Also, if you think to yourself "there's noone in the audience that can do what I'm doing" There may be some other musicians out there, but it's not likely there's anyone that plays the same songs the same way you do.
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving"
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