ok Jpockets, in my opinion live games are a totally different animal to online games. A few things to keep in mind.
1. dont look for
tells on your first game. The best thing to go is when your delt your hand dont look at the cards straight away. Just look for players that go for chips, it will usually mean a raise. (suppose it is a tell but a basic one that happens EVERY time i play live).
2. Play your cards tight, but when you enter a pot raise, and be the aggressor if possible for the hand, dont stare people out, remember you need a better hand to call rather than raise.
3. If you get shortstacked, dont go all in until you see lots of limping into the pot with no raises, you can usually take the pot there and then.
4. When the blinds get high you have to be the aggressor, this is usually where the game is won and lost, especially when it gets down to 3 or 4 players.
Basic enough stuff but i hope it helps. oh and if your a chatty player continue to be chatty if you pick up aces or hip a dream flop, nothing as easy to spot as the player who is wreaking your head with his poker stories all evening, all of a sudden he shuts up sits up straight and............. ususally everone at the table folds.