lotje

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE it’s a general chit chat 💜 I’m co-hosting with wonderful accomplished Lotje Horvers, tour manager extraordinaire & founder of backstage-pass.nl 🎟 No agenda, just us talking about working hard & time off. Ever pondered the notion of intentional space in your schedule as opposed to going into a blind panic if you can’t fill every gap? If you’re struggling to find the joy in what you do, maybe a step back is just what you need to keep the faith 😇 Wednesday 28th Sept 6pm London.

check in

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE no theme, just a check in 🙏How are you? How are you feeling as we head into autumn … Rinsed out by summer or raring to do more?! Join us for the chat. Bring your triumphs & challenges = we’re a peer support group for anyone working in or connected with music touring & live events & we meet on zoom most weeks. All welcome, we champion good mental health, touring better & being connected to a community in what can be a freelance disconnected world 💜 MONDAY 19th September 6pm London

Mig Burgess

Next Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE we’re looking at the unseen struggles – anxiety, depression & other mental health issues rife in our industry 😬 Mental Health advocate Mig Burgess Walsh is our guest – Mig is a personal h #musictouringcrewero for speaking out about her own diagnosis & her podcast with the Cowshed remains an inspiration on some of my own blacker days 🖤 Join us for the discussion, the more we are brave & open about this subject, the less the stigma ✊ Wed 14th Sept 6pm London

Maja

Tomorrow Monday on The BACK LOUNGE we’re looking at ‘SAYING NO’ ✋ We work in an industry where for the most part we put up & shut up, but is that finally changing & if so why? Fact- there has been plenty of crew shuffling this summer – it’s been crazy busy, whether it’s scheduling, cancellations or whatever restrictions we’ve had to endure, there is most definitely evidence that people are voting with their feet. Is this after 2 years of reassessing what is v isn’t acceptable or is it knowing with the shortage of crew, work is plentiful = less worry about leaving & finding something else. Our guest is beloved regular Maja ⭐️ tour manager, artist manager & founder at queerstothefront.com ✊ Dm if you’d like to join us Monday 5th Sept 6pm London.

mix tape

The BACK LOUNGE is having a week off, but will be back next Monday 29th August for a co host zoom with our friends at CREW COALITION. What was the album that defined you as a teenager? The one that channelled your angst and gave you hope, and that music understood you ….and maybe even made you run away to join the circus ie work in live music 🤡 We’re going to be reminiscing and comparing notes. What may be one’s Linkin Park might be another’s Harry Styles. Either way our aim is to put together a feel good playlist as we dust off summer and head into autumn. Monday 29th August 6pm London. One for your diary. All welcome 💖

stress and fatigue

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE it’s ‘STRESS & FATIGUE’ with our long term beloved lounger Charlotte Mai Jacobsen 🦹‍♀️ music pro with well observed opinions on pretty much everything 😎How’s everyone coping? Any techniques helping you make it through the night… and the early mornings? DM for zoom invite We’re a peer support for anyone working in music & events 💜 Newbies to oldies, everyone welcome 🤘 Wednesday 10th August 6pm London

Whats changed

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE it’s all about “WHAT’s CHANGED”? Joanne Croxford is chairing. Production Coordinator midway through a Duran Duran summer, diversity & wellbeing advocate & an all round inspiring human being 😇 Most of us could say this summer has been the hardest ever. Plenty of downsides, but also some chinks of light? Join us to share how it’s been for you whether you’ve weathered all this before, or it’s your first time working in live music. Let’s face it we’re rolling together. Wednesday 3rd August 6pm London

check in

Next Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE it’s a check in. How are we all? No theme, just a chat. How’s your summer? Good? Nice to be working? Chaotic?! Juggling? Simon Schofield – fresh back from a festival run with Muse- is in the driving seat. All welcome, we meet on zoom 😍 This is a peer group for music & event folks, things are better when you are connected with a community ⭐️ This is a place to talk it out or just connect and listen. Wednesday 27th July 6pm London ✌ #healthytouring #musiccrew #musictouring #musictourcommunity

feast or famine

‘FEAST OR FAMINE’ ❤️🖤 next week on The BACK LOUNGE.
What a summer this is turning out to be… With the odds stacked against us in so many ways what’s it like being back at work
Is it different? Are you different? COVID (again), Brexit, price hikes, flight chaos, lost bags & shortage of people, kit, stages & the rest. Welcome back eh! We’re nothing if not resilient. Join us for the discussion on zoom – This week only TUESDAY (not our usual Wednesday) 12th July 6pm London ✌️

2nd birthday

Happy 2nd birthday to The BACK LOUNGE community, we are 2 years & 1week old today. What began as a weekly zoom for touring & event folks to stay in touch & support each other through the pandemic & everything since, we’ve gone on to be a huge community looking out for each other in what can sometimes be a brutal lifestyle ‘on the road’. This is where you can find other people who understand that choosing freelance & following your passion can mean the best & the worst job in the world Come by say hi, whether you’re a regular or came once or twice way back when, or if you’re curious as to what can be gained from being connected with a group of amazing like-minded souls. And if back to work has been a bit crap – hey we’ve all been there -we’re there to lean on too. Wed 6th July 6pm London