It’s just an etiquette thing. It’s to thank the audience for watching the performance, and for clapping. It doesn’t really have to do with it being about your “betters” with regard to a performance. But yes in some cultures it’s a sign of respect and may be done in settings like a meeting or something

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Bowing is generally a sign of respect or recognition of appreciation or gifts.

Different cultures do it differently and in different times. Some do have a fairly elaborate culture of bowing and greeting others - others don't. Yes, there are places where bowing when meeting someone in workplaces or when first greeting someone in their homes.

In most places, bowing is considered a fairly formal gesture. It is less likely to be used in informal gatherings and between friends.

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In the West, artists bowing at the end of a performance began with opera in Italy during the 1820's. If the audience kept clapping after the curtain fell, it meant they really liked the show so the artists would come out and bow to show they felt honored by the praise. The custom soon caught on and artists all over Europe started bowing at the end of their show and it became a tradition.

People in some Asian countries do bow at meetings and other social events and there are rules to determine who bows first and even how low you should go; but in the West bowing wasn't as widespread: it was mostly used with royalty or at very formal settings, so the custom was mostly lost as the rules of etiquette evolved and became less "affected" over time.