I used to get frustrated as the conductor of a tenor-bass a cappella ensemble, because of the easy fandom they received. They could give a good performance and get screams from their peers, even when an outstanding performance by another choir on the same concert didn’t receive the same level of applause.
Then I realized that this could be a motivational opportunity.
With a brief acknowledgement of the fact ahead of time, I position myself eat the entrance to the stage, and as I give my students high fives, I whisper, “Earn it.”
Earn the applause they’re giving you for free.
Earn their respect by raising your own personal bar.
Earn the opportunities you’ve been given by their support.
The amount of acclaim we receive isn’t always fairly distributed – what we do with it matters. We can use it to rest on our laurels, or use it to drive us to action.