Playing from the Heart vs. Playing from the Ego

When people play from the ego, it’s performative – and only performative.

Of course performances are going to performative, but audiences want something underneath it. They don’t want just an imitation or recitation reinforcing the identity the performer wants the audience to see them as.

They want vulnerability. And that only happens when the performer takes a real risk.

Playing from the ego usually takes the form of copying an established style, overplaying or pandering lyrics.

But the tell-tale sign of playing from the ego comes out in jams, mostly. 

Not listening.

Ego players are too busy worrying about themselves and how they’re coming off to listen to other players (or even themselves). 

They’re on a mission to be perceived in a specific way and any reaction that doesn’t fit into that is disregarded.

They won’t even risk it, so they won’t be present. 

So they’ll end up playing all the notes in the hopes that the audience likes at least some of them.  

Or they’ll cover up their own melody with ear-piercing guitar strumming running through 6 pedals. 

People playing from the heart aren’t playing to prove anything.

They’re doing it for themselves.

They’re enjoying it so does the audience, not the other way around. 

Ironically, playing from the heart involves putting yourself before the audience. That’s how they know you’re in it for the love of the game and they’ll love you for it. 

But the risk you’re taking that egoic players aren’t is the risk of saying “here’s me trying my best” and some people won’t like it. You risk rejection on a mass scale. 

But the audiences at Incubator at least are forgiving of anyone who’s putting themselves out there, playing from the heart.