Ego Vs Alter Ego - Know The Difference
Musicians…we are a passionate, creative, proud breed who long to create wonderful pieces of music and strive to make it the best possible. We pour our hearts and souls into crafting musical landscapes that we hope will capture capacity crowds, resonate with thousands of music fans online, and last a lifetime in the hearts of listeners and convert customers to help support our artistry.
Such is the passion, effort, and let’s not forget…MONEY…that’s poured into everything that comes with our music career, that it’s easy to forget, especially in this modern digital age, that there are a huge number of musicians and bands out there, and the majority of them have the same aspirations when it comes to delivering music to the masses.
A group of thrill seekers, musicians strive to break through the “infamous” glass ceiling, and for lots of artists, it’s a nemesis that’s slain many a musician that’s gone on to cause mental and physical distress.
But don’t blame it all on the glass ceiling…It’s hardly its fault it was put there. It wasn’t always obvious, but trust me, it’s always been there, and trying to develop a band’s career to the “next level” has always been extremely difficult. The internet might paint a pretty picture of success, but as Bon Scott once said, “it’s a long way to the top if you wanna’ rock ‘n’ roll.”
The internet, for everything good that it brings to the table, plays its part in piling on the mental pressures of being a music artist in the modern digital age. It’s a rollercoaster of a ride, with plenty of lows and the highs aren’t as frequent as we’d hope…HOWEVER…if you’re a true artist…musicians are driven to break down walls and impress important marks, through planning and hard work, GREAT songs and that word again…MONEY. But with such passion and drive in abundance, it’s highly likely that there’s an ego somewhere waiting to step out into the limelight and make a BIG impression for the right or wrong reasons.
Egos are crucial, let’s be clear…they are integral for musicians wanting to make the leap from a hobbyist who is having fun (which is fantastic) to someone larger than life ENTERTAINING on a grand scale that resonates with big audiences, and this is where it’s important to know the difference between your alter ego and ego.
Think of the greatest rock legends of all time, and consider how they reached such dizzying heights. Ego will have played an essential part in their success. However, in modern times of media over saturation, where we as consumers have never had so much choice when it comes to entertainment, it’s essential for musicians to know the difference between an ego and alter ego. Figuring out when and where to purpose both to best effect, whilst avoiding negativity and toxicity that can de-rail the greatest of plans by even the best music management strategies.
For example:
1) An alter ego can be our ‘superhero’ self, and should be used for promotional events like live shows, music videos, professional band photos etc. Being larger than life in the public eye can go a long way to taking a band to another level. But there can be two sides to an alter ego. Keep it positive and avoid the destructive side.
2) Ego. We need to keep this in check. There’s no denying egos are part of an artist’s make up, but don’t be fooled into thinking they’ll carry a band to dizzying heights of success in times of huge competition and stress in the music industry . More often than not, egos can shut doors and be the downfall of a musician’s career. Serious music industry professionals seek talent, but not at the risk of them being caused a mountain of stress from an ego that’s full of self entitlement.
We’re living in an age where communication is instant, the big opportunities are staggered, and opportunities can be opened and closed shut in the blink of an eye. There’s no room for ugly egos in this business, and don’t get caught out and mistake ego for passion. A solid good dose of humanity to dilute an ego can go a long way.
It’s never been more important to listen, learn and be informed as best as possible before letting emotion overwhelm critical decision making. Let’s not forget the phrase “the whole world’s a stage”, and it’s never been more true than it is now, with the likes of social media. Your audiences and potential new fans and customers have access to your profile 24/7. If you’re looking to build a true group of fans that can help support your career, keeping dirty laundry behind closed doors is 100% imperative.
The key thing to remember in all this; there’s always going to be someone / something better, that we desire but can’t always get for one reason or another, and it’s “not fair”. No matter how great our ego thinks we are, there’s always someone in a better position (and this can be for so many different reasons, it’s not always about how good the music is/isn’t).
Day to day situations can be extremely frustrating and draining for aspiring musicians, who’ve spent much time, money and effort on their music careers. And in that one word, careers, we need to remember its relation to business and everything (good and bad) that comes with running an entertainment business where essentially the hero product (music) is free via music streaming platforms like Spotify.
Letting an ego overrule common sense is a game changer, and more times than not, it’s not a good one. Taking a deep breath and thinking through actions, whilst not over analysing, before acting on them is an asset. A musician’s aspirations shouldn’t be dismissed because an ego thinks it should be the leader of the pack. Onwards, always. Never lose your passion for artistry.
(Rob ‘Bobby’ Town – Stampede Press)
Stampede Press UK
Stampede Press is a dynamic PR and Marketing agency, dedicated to boosting the visibility and success of rock and metal music artists. With qualified artist management; our direct to fan marketing, PR campaigns and electronic press kits (EPKs) help music artists grow fanbases and merchandise sales. Stampede Press guides and supports creative musicians to help them get the most of their music industry.
