Next Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE, we’re exploring the often-overlooked impact of perimenopause and menopause, not just on the body, but on confidence and everyday decision-making. Our guest, Arva Valika Director of Clinical Operations, CiC Wellbeing, will be leading a conversation on how hormonal and psychological changes can influence how women think, feel, and act, around work, finances and relationships. From brain fog and fatigue to shifts in self-belief, many women make choices during this time, without realising the long-term impact on their wellbeing and financial future. Whether this is you or someone close to you, everyone’s welcome to join the conversation. Men too, don’t be scared! Wednesday 12th November 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EST / 10am PST. To get the Zoom link, email info@thebacklounge.org (any time from now up to 30 minutes before the call begins).

Next Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE, we’re delighted to welcome back Tristan Hunt, ADHD coach for the music industry. Research highlights a notably higher prevalence of neurodiversity within music, both onstage and behind it, and our focus will be better communication. Most of what we do involves close work with other people, and whether you are neurodiverse – diagnosed or undiagnosed – or you have colleagues who are, this is about bringing understanding for better collaboration and teamwork. Come along, join in, or just listen. Email info@thebacklounge.org to get the zoom link to join our call, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 5th November 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EST / 10am PST

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE, we’re revisiting a popular session from the summer – GETTING LET GO or, as many know it, NOT GETTING ASKED BACK. Whether it still rattles your confidence, or you’ve been the one who had to make that tough call, this session we’ll talk about what it feels like from both sides, old friends, tricky work dynamics, or tough choices about fit and attitude. How can we handle it with kindness, honesty and a bit of grace? Lara Cullen @_thepeopleperson, author and exec coach with lived experience of the live music industry, joins us again for this open, judgement free discussion. It’s a safe space, totally off the record, and let’s face it…it’s happened to the best of us. Come along, join in, or just listen. Email info@thebacklounge.org to get the zoom link to join our call, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 15th October 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT

This week on The BACK LOUNGE it’s all about being in-between. When you come off a job and life feels like it’s on pause until the next role comes in. How can you stay focused, especially if the gap becomes longer than you’d planned. How can we make this time useful and meaningful so we’re ready for whatever comes next? This week I’m co-hosting with beloved friend, activist and constant source of inspiration Joanne Croxford. If you’re curious and was to see what this community is about, email info@thebacklounge.org to get the zoom link to join our call, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 8th October 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT

This Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE it’s the return of our inhouse yoda – Michael LoBue. Musician, Stage Manager and Backline Tech, with a gift of encapsulating wisdom from most scenarios, hence the nickname. Our theme is COPING WITH CHANGE, whether it’s something you’ve initiated, or its been forced upon you. Adjusting to new circumstances can be hard, whether you saw it coming or not. Whatever your story… come to the end of the line and had to quit a job… or life has forced an unexpected reboot…only one thing is certain, in ‘live’ the situation is exactly that. To get the zoom link, email info@thebacklounge.org, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 24th Sept 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am

This week’s BACK LOUNGE is a check in, no theme, bring anything that you’d like to talk about, likewise no obligation to speak, you’re welcome to join for the good company. We are a global community working across live music and events, some of us are busy as hell and verging on burnout, some of us have had the quietest year ever. Some are just starting out its a long hard road ahead, and some of are hanging up our high viz and steel toecaps for good. And of course, there’s everything and everyone in between! If you’re curious and was to see what this community is about, email info@thebacklounge.org to get the zoom link to join our call, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 1st October 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT

It’s a check in this Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE… how are we? In a world that feels more divided than ever, a little kindness, respect and acceptance with each other goes a long way. Whatever your role in live music & events, come join the convo. Chez Stock- audio engineer and Simon Schofield- video tech, are hosting this week. To get the zoom link, email info@thebacklounge.org, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 17th Sept 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT

Next Wednesday, our BACK LOUNGE topic is Ageing Parents. It’s a chapter many of us face, when the roles reverse, and we find ourselves caring for our parents in one way or another. And it becomes even harder if work keeps you on the move. This session is about sharing these experiences and finding support together, so many of us go through this. To join email info@thebacklounge.org for the zoom link, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 10th Sept 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE it’s a nutrition special. Life on the road doesn’t exactly make ‘healthy and balanced’ easy, so how can you make it work? Whether it’s dietary needs, regulating mood, maintaining a weight you’re comfortable with, or taking care of a health condition, this is about some of the practicalities. I’m a tour manager, but will be hosting this with my nutrition hat on – I’m a qualified Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist (CNHC, mBANT) and Psychotherapist (mBACP). Bring your thoughts, questions and tips, and let’s figure out making it work in a realistic way. To join email info@thebacklounge.org for the zoom link, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 3rd Sept 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT

After a wee summer holiday, The BACK LOUNGE is back! September’s creeping up, and that back to school feeling is in the air, and after some time off I’ll admit I’ve been a bit twitchy (guess it only hurts when you stop, right?) This session is a check in, no theme just how you’re doing and how the summer’s treated you. Email info@thebacklounge.org for the zoom link, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 27th August 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT

‘WHEN YOU GET LET GO’ also known as ‘NOT ASKED BACK’ – is our subject next week on The BACK LOUNGE. It happens to the best of us, and even though it might be a right of passage, it can sting and take a while for your self-esteem to recover. Our guest helping us unpick the associated feelings is Lara Cullen joining us again @_thepeopleperson, author and executive coach with lived experience of the live music industry. Our focus will be how to pick yourself up, forgive on every level, and move on. This call will not be recorded. Everyone welcome. Email info@thebacklounge.org for the zoom link, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 6th August 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT/10am PDT

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE, it’s a FEISTY & FURRY takeover with Joanne Croxford, Tour manager – & Chez Stock, Audio engineer – both of whom are outspoken advocates for making touring better. It’s a pet special and we welcome you to bring your best furry friend/s or photos of them and let’s get together and share the laughs, whines and whoops of why we love our pets so fiercely ????????????????????????‍???? Email info@thebacklounge.org for the zoom link, any time from now ‘til 30mins before the call begins. Wednesday 16th July 6pm London / 7pm CET / 1pm EDT/10am PDT