a guitarlegend.. i´m not sure if this is still possible, but back in the day where all of todays legends came into beeing guitarplaying was far form where it is now. it was "easier" to do somethin gnobody has done before like tapping or playing ultrafast and whatnot.
plus back then the crowd was more interested in music and musicians (i´m talking about real music btw) than they are now. i mean - there were times when gentle giant played infront of some 25,000 folks! put them on stage now with their wierd music and all you´ll have will be like 100 enthusiasts or fanatics.
todays above-average players would have been gods back then.
standards have changed. plus there was a large industry behind such acts.

apart form that you have to be good in selling yourself. to the industry and to the crowd.