Nice job. Nothing wrong with having a supportive audience. You will be harder on yourself than they will be. But sure- learn from the experience.
For starting a song, it helps of someone counts it in. Some songs will have pick-ups ahead of the 1 beat so it helps to get is established before. If you can count on the drummer to set the tempo let him do it. Either vocally (1, 2, ....) or clicking the sticks.