You make some good points here Michael. When I was taking guitar lessons my instructor encouraged me to hit open jams. It really taught me alot about listening to other players and how to blend rhythm and lead into the jam. It was on the fly performance experience and my musicianship increased 10 fold.
As far as the ego factor goes, I've met a few musicians with inflated heads, but a true performer and songwriter plays music to satisfy an inner desire to express themselves.
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