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This Wednesday it’s men’s mental health with ‘BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN’ on The BACK LOUNGE. Statistically men are 3x more likely to take their own lives than women & may also be more likely to use potentially harmful coping mechanisms such as drugs & alcohol. Add the music business & touring into the mix = long periods away from home & support networks…and it’s easy to see why problems can add up. But why is it so hard to talk about? This week our space is dedicated to men, & for those of us who identify otherwise, for the men we work alongside. Be brave, help remove the stigma and let’s talk about this. Rowan McDonagh is our guest – 25 years working in the biz, a trauma survivor & in recovery. Camera on or off, speak or just listen. This is a safe space
Wednesday 2nd November 6pm GMT

Next Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE we are KEEPING THE FAITH with one of booking agents’ good guys = Alex Bruford. Head of ATC Live & agent for the likes of Nick Cave & PJ Harvey, Alex is confident touring will recover soon, despite…. well… where do we start?! We are a community of touring professionals who look to support each other through the good & the bad & the ugly. Wednesday 19th Oct 6pm London https://apple.news/AM7DcDNESRqCOM3o90kIBkA

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE is brave, outspoken, often controversial Chez Stock. Never one to mince her words & with many years working as an audio engineer at all levels, what better person is there to host a session on storytelling? After a summer to remember (or possibly forget) what was your moment of triumph, of overcoming all the odds. Was it still making the show despite a travel nightmare / technical glitch – delete as applicable. Or maybe in the middle of it all you had the BEST day off ever? With the best crew? The best catering, the plumpest bus pillow, a hotel room with a view other than the wall opposite? Over to Chez who will be leading the proceedings. Wed 12 Oct 6pm London.

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.

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

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

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.

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 💖

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

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