November the 18th marks AusMusic T-Shirt Day, an annual day of awareness to celebrate Aussie music and raise much needed funds for music workers experiencing crisis such as illness, injury, mental health issues or other situations that impact their ability to work. Created by Support Act, AusMusic T-Shirt Day highlights the unique issues those who work within the music industry face, and prompts us to reflect on how those who create the soundtrack to our lives may be struggling behind the scenes.
In May of 2022, Support Act conducted a survey of 1,304 professionals from the music and live performing arts industries. The results were startling. Of those surveyed, 65% reported high/very high levels of psychological stress, 59% had experienced suicidal thoughts, over half of those surveyed use drugs or alcohol to cope with life stressors, rates of anxiety and depression were more than double that of the general population, and over a third of participants reported earning below the poverty line from their line of work.
But what contributes to this level of hardship?
Another survey conducted in the UK identified five significant stressors - performance anxiety, the public not understanding (not viewing music as a ‘real job’), work overload, work underload, and career anxiety. The balance between work overload and underload is significant. Work overload may mean that yes - work is plentiful, but it is also time intensive, impacting a musician’s social and family life by working unsociable hours and being on the road for days, weeks or months on end. Touring can also lead to a lack of self-care through late working hours, lacking a balanced diet, turning to drugs or alcohol to come down after gigs, and time spent travelling. On the flip side, work underload occurs when gigs are considered uninspiring, low paying, or require playing with other musicians that lack the necessary level skill. Finding the balance between overload and underload may feel difficult to attain for many.
Financial hardship is another common stressor for musicians. It may take musos several years to reach a level where they are financially stable from their music work, and even for those that work regularly, many supplement their income with second and third jobs. Covid further intensified this financial hardship. Not only did isolation stop all live performance in its tracks, many felt the Australian government failed to provide appropriate assistance for those working within the arts. To compound this stress further, many artists suddenly lacked the literal outlet for their creativity while in isolation. For a community that are so often called upon to volunteer their talents for others in times of need, such as the plethora of fundraising concerts that occur every year, this industry was suddenly left out in the cold.
So what can musicians do to help themselves in the face of such challenges?
~ Asking for help when you’re struggling is, first and foremost, the most important thing you can do. Reach out to a friend, partner, family member, or a professional like your GP or counsellor. If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Lifeline on 13 14 11 or the Support Act Hotline on 1800 959 500.
~ Practice regular self-care - eat well, exercise, and get enough rest.
~ Explore strengths, talents and interests beyond music. What brings you feelings of value and contentment outside of your identity as a performer or muso?
~ Be familiar with available resources designed specifically for your industry. Support Act provide several services including crisis relief grants, financial advice, and programs targeting bullying in the workplace. Click here to find out more.
If you would like one-on-one counselling to help navigate the challenges associated with working in music or any other area of the performing arts industry, Centred Stage can help. Contact me to arrange an appointment, or a free 15 minute chemistry chat to see if Centred Stage is right for you.
To read the full 2022 report by Support Act, click here.
To donate to Support Act so they can continue providing these crucial services for the music industry, please click here.
** To celebrate AusMusic T-Shirt Day, I am wearing the t-shirt of Aussie blues band, The Sacred Crows, who are based on the South Coast of New South Wales. To wrap your ears around their awesome tunes, click here**
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