The people working in the live music are one of the most passionate people, they live and breathe what they do. You’re not your job. And that’s true. Yet, a huge majority of the people working in live music industry identify themselves through their jobs. Their job is who they are. Heck, I’m one of them too. In the modern society work is where we spend most of our time, so it’s no big surprise.
And now that work has been taken away. It’s not just the income that has been taken away, also the event family and friends have been taken away. Yes, the people are still there but it’s not the same. You don’t see them on site or venue. It feels like everything that you’re used to has been taken away and there’s no knowing of when exactly we could return to do the things we feel we’re good at and see the people we are used to seeing. We hope for 2021 summer, the less optimistic ones talk about 2022…
In a 2018 study from the Music Industry Research Association, 50 percent of musicians reported battling symptoms of depression, compared with less than 25 percent of the general adult population. Nearly 12 percent reported having suicidal thoughts — nearly four times the general population. According to a 2019 study published by Swedish digital-distribution platform Record Union, the numbers are even starker: It found that 73 percent of independent musicians have battled stress, anxiety, and depression. It isn’t just the musicians in the industry who are suffering, a Skiddle Mental Health survey revealed that over 80% of promoters have experienced symptoms of stress. And then let’s not forget about the crew of the live events who have been known to be struggling with mental health as well.
I think I don’t know anyone from live industry who hasn’t had their struggles with mental well-being over the years. I’m one of them as well. I’ve been at dark places I don’t ever want to go back to and I wish nobody would ever have to go to those places. Ever. But I’ve seen blinks of them again in the past 6 months… and speaking with colleagues from all over the world has shown that they have the same struggles. Doesn’t matter where we are, we are having our difficulties with being well. And that’s what’s worrying.
Many people who feel sad or struggle prefer to be quiet and they pull away. They close into their shells and don’t reach out to anyone. And not because they would think that their friends and family don’t care of them. They do it because they don’t want to burden them, they do it because they don’t want them to worry, they do it because they don’t want to make the others feel bad.
It can also be hard for people outside of live sector to understand the scope of the loss we’re talking about when we say it’s difficult for us. “You’ll find another job, just start applying” is a sentence that won’t motivate to do anything. “Everyone is having a hard time” is a sentence that won’t make anyone feel better. It’s ok not to be ok. But it’s not ok not to be ok alone.
So I’d like to challenge you today and for the rest of the duration of this pandemic to message and call to your friends, (ex)colleagues, family members etc who have worked in the live sector before and ask them how they are doing and do something with them. They need to hear you are there for them. They need to feel they still matter even when their government might say the opposite. It’s the smallest thing one can do to help.
Stay well!
Ingrid
If you feel like you need professional help there are wonderful music industry organisations and resources provided by:
