I think there's a distinction between showing off and being competitive.

I find myself wanting to get up and show off sometimes, let people see that I have some good stuff to share, and that I belong there in the circle where people are making the music.But I don't think I feel competitive within the circle. I think, for me, making music is much more about sharing and cooperating and building a common language and culture than it is about competition.

But then maybe if I thought I was good enough to just blow people away, maybe that's what I'd want to do. But I don't think I would, because the people I most admire in the folk world, like Martin Carthy, aren't like that.

Clearly there are some people for whom an intense competitive drive is important. When it's allied to major talent, like Bob Dylan, it may be a pain, but we reap the benefits, I suppose. When the ego is bigger than the talent, it's just a drag, but it can go along with some kind of success for some people, perhaps more in other types of music.