I find that at these games (all of my home games) playing tight aggressive is still a good strategy early on.

The thing that I find, is that when it comes down to the final 3 or 4 players, these guys have been watching me play all night. I will have only showed premium hands (if I've showed at all) because I can get most of the guys that I play with of of anyting with any aggression.

Then I have to start losening up or I will get beat. Once great example:

It's down to 3-way. One guy says "It's my goal to beat Justin".

I say: "Why don't you try to come in 1st instead?", to which he replies: "Because, I wanted to beat Justin coming into the game and I am afraid of your bets". At the time I was shot stack at the table to because I had only been playing tight.

After the guy did beat Justin, the first hand of heads up I was dealt 67s. Now I know that I have to losen up and the guy is afraid of my bets so I put out a 4x raise from the SB, the other guy calls. Flop comes 5-6-6 the other guy goes all-in, I call, I win.

After that hand he asks me: "Why would you ever raise with that?" He knew I was tight, but didn't consider that I could change gears when I needed to.

Sorry that was so long, but I think it's a solid story that ties into your question. I think it would be a good idea to try to get the players in your games to recoginize you as a good player. Then they will watch you, notice your tightness, then you can losen up against them and take their money.