There I am, 18 years old, criticizing band after band. “Angus young sucks because he can’t play arpeggios”, “Yngwie has no feel”, “Poison sucks because they look like girls – maybe that’s still true LOL”. Point is, I’m reminded of that guy often and how much I want to invent a time machine simply to go back and punch that guy in the face. It’s amazing that the older we get, the more we realize how ignorant we really are.
Looking back, that kid was filled with pride and envy. He didn’t want others to succeed or somehow needed to comment on everything to try and gain some form of authority as if he was anywhere near the level of those touring artists. What a jerk and idiot. However, that level of thinking is still around and prevalent. Why? because it’s a human instinct and it impacts the music industry more than ever locally, regionally, and internationally due to social media.
In my research on this phenomenon (because I’m not a psychologist, I’m a dumb musician and businessman), a study was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and said: Envy occurs when someone lacks another’s superior quality, achievement, or possession, and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it. This complex emotion can be particularly acute in competitive environments like the music industry, where success is often subjective and elusive.
This article is about that human instinct and often unspoken phenomenon that can hinder personal growth and community cohesion. It’s going to try and tackle the complex reason why the more someone else gets success, the more folks tend to want them not to succeed, and usually it’s the closest people you know.
Let’s first discuss the roots of envy. Here are some of the more common things musicians face:
- Comparative Mindset: Musicians may constantly compare themselves to others, leading to feelings of inadequacy or resentment when they perceive others as more successful.
- Scarcity Mentality: In a field where opportunities and recognition can be limited, musicians may fear that someone else’s success diminishes their own chances of achieving similar recognition.
- Insecurity: Feelings of self-doubt or imposter syndrome can exacerbate envy, as individuals may struggle to validate their own worth in the face of others’ achievements.
- Perceived Unfairness: When musicians believe that others have achieved success through luck or nepotism rather than talent and hard work, envy can arise as a response to perceived injustice.
So, who cares? We all should.
The consequences of envy within the music community can be detrimental both personally and professionally. Here are some key examples and things I’ve seen just in our area:
- A Negative Self-Perception: Constant comparison to others can erode musicians’ self-esteem and confidence in their abilities. I’ve seen players who were truly amazing discredit themselves to the point they believed themselves and no longer performed at the same levels before.
- Strained Relationships: Envy may create tension and resentment between musicians, undermining collaboration, and camaraderie within the community and bands. I’ve seen where musicians have put strain on band leaders trying to get them to adopt what other bands are doing because of perceived success, ultimately creating more stress, expense, and time for the band leader.
- Stagnation: Focusing on others’ success instead of personal growth can hinder musicians’ creative development and career advancement. I’ve seen where band members were so worried about what others were doing, they failed to put the effort in their own band to be successful.
Here’s the good news. While envy is a natural emotion, we can take some proactive steps to mitigate its impact, which should enhance your mental well-being and professional success. Easier said than done but consider these simple mindset changes.
- Practice Gratitude: Cultivating a mindset of gratitude can help musicians appreciate their own achievements and blessings, reducing the inclination to compare themselves to others. Setting small goals and achieving them is an amazing booster for me personally. Seeing bands support one another and coming out to the venue is a big booster for me.
- Focus on Personal Growth: Instead of fixating on others’ successes, musicians can channel their energy into improving their skills, expanding their repertoire, and setting and achieving their own goals. Personally, I’ll use others’ successes as a possible roadmap. There is a reason they are successful, instead of trying to fight them, learn from them.
- Celebrate Others’ Successes: Rather than viewing others’ achievements as threats, musicians can choose to celebrate their peers’ successes and use them as sources of inspiration and motivation. I can testify that bands who support other bands ultimately do better than those who do not.
Anyway, this was a weird article to write but I felt led to write it because it exists in our community. I’m no expert on psychology but I don’t mind sharing the things I’ve seen, felt, and experienced in this regard.
I’ve learned that things like envy can prevent us from growing and experiencing happiness, the same as resentment, jealousy…etc (there are previous articles on that as well). Ultimately, I hope this article can bring some thought and possibly a positive change to our community. Rock On!