Next week our theme is ‘MILLENNIALS’ on The BACK LOUNGE. They get a bad rep, but the future of our live industry is based on new blood & new enthusiasm carrying us forward. If the pandemic has made room with many crew not coming back, now is our chance to change touring for the better. What can we learn from a fresh perspective & the self awareness some of us may never have had in our 20s/ 30s? The first millennials hit 40 this year by the way… Our guest is the award-winning backstage creative, @Pembe Tokluhan (www.pembe-tokluhan.com) https://petokproductions.com/ former gang member who turned her life around to inspire others and promote diversity backstage. Oh…and she’s only 24! Wednesday 20th April 6pm London. All welcome, DM for the zoom link ✊

Next Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE it’s an open forum ?
The zoom room will be open from 6pm London for a check in & chat. Join to meet fellow travellers on the road & talk about whatever is coming up for you – the good, the bad & the ‘couldn’t make it up’. We’re building a community of like- minded souls to support & lean on each other, from wiley old roadies, fresh faced newbies & live music pros of all sorts from around the planet, but all of us passionate for what we do & united in supporting each other for whatever awaits further down the road. 2000+ have connected with The BACK LOUNGE so far across our various platforms. No formal membership, no charge, come & go as you please, but know we’re here if you need us. As always everyone welcome. Wednesday 6th April 6pm London ?

Next Wednesday our theme is ‘REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL…’ on The BACK LOUNGE ? How are you? I mean really HOW ARE YOU? Trouble sleeping, anxiety running high, jump every time you get a news alert on your phone? It’s pretty much impossible not to feel affected by the world at large and it’s taking its’ toll on our mental health ? This week shining a light in dark times are our beloved Joanne Croxford, Wellness & Diversity Specialist who in a previous incarnation manned the help line at Music Support and Jason Rungapadiachy, musician & former mental health nurse. Tune in to discuss what our current times mean to you and find ways to feel better and keep going ?
Wednesday 23rd March 6pm GMT

Next Tuesday our theme on The BACK LOUNGE is ‘the WILD WEST’, or 2022 so far, to be precise. Pandemic, plague, war…what next. And in all of this most of us are still trying to make a living. How do we negotiate the endless uncertainty, day rates and cancellation fees – with shrinking budgets, higher costs and a shortage of crew which you think would help… are you having to negotiate hard? Our guest is Cerys Aedy artist manager & coach https://crewcoalition.com/ and she’ll be helping us figure this out. Tuesday 15th March 6pm GMT

Next Wednesday ‘When the s*** gets real’ on The BACK LOUNGE. What happens when for personal reasons – physical or mental – you can’t do your job? Our guest is Ben Price, who as a tour manager was diagnosed with a vision problem that was only heading one way. Now an artist manager with a roster of amazing artists with disabilities, he turned lemons into lemonade. After last week’s ‘Be an Ally’ this is a heartfelt response as to why we should all care. Wed 9th March 6pm GMT

Next Thursday 3rd March The BACK LOUNGE is cohosting workshop #3 with TPG – Tour Production Group –
HOW TO BE AN ALLY with Joanne Croxford, Keely Myers (she/her) and guests. If we truly want more diversity backstage, how do we create an environment that feels inclusive and welcoming? With a shortage of crew a reality, now’s our time to broaden our horizons.
This session is FREE and for anyone who works in music (not just live music) and events. You can sign up here ? Thurs 3rd Mar 6-7.30pm London GMT ✊
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/232200175977

On The BACK LOUNGE next week “Daddy Daddy when I grow up I want to be a musician’ Dad: ‘Well you can’t do both”… ?
I guess you could say this described some crew too and ‘teenage’ behaviour was practically encouraged…that was BC (before COVID). But is it still like that now? Is the nomadic lifestyle and wherever I lay my hat still as attractive? Or is staying at home not so bad after all. And have we grown up…just a bit? With an estimated number of as much as a third of all crew still not having returned fully to music work, what happens next? Bring your road stories and kitchen sink tales from the past 2 years, everyone welcome ??? Wed 23rd Feb 6pm London GMT

This week things are a little different on The BACK LOUNGE. No Wednesday group & instead on THURSDAY it’s #2 workshop co host with Tour Production Group – ‘BETTER MENTAL HEALTH ON TOUR’ with MITC psychotherapist Jodi Milstein & Roadie Medic Dr Arun Castro. This will be a thought-provoking session, with practical tips and plenty of time for questions. It’s free, register here ?
Thurs 17th Feb 6-7.30pm London
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/232173596477

Next Wed 9th on The BACK LOUNGE it’s ‘NO SNAKE OIL HERE’ As venue doors open and tour buses roll, what can we do when faced with Omicron and whatever else may be ahead ?
Craig Ali Health & Wellbeing Specialist www.totalhealth.uk.com/ is sharing his knowledge on how to boost immunity and stay healthy. This is more than just chucking in a bit of Vit C because you read it somewhere on the internet. Join the zoom
Wed 9th Feb 6pm GMT London = WARNING this session may be good for you ? If you’d like to watch an earlier session we ran with Craig last year on Mindfulness for Touring, message me. Your stress levels will thank you ✌

Next week on The BACK LOUNGE it’s ‘DECISIONS’. Find them hard ? ? Most of us are faced with a few, given things are starting to move again & the landscape is decidedly different since pre pandemic. “What is my next step to ‘level-up’?”
“How do I build a ‘sustainable’ career?” “Who are the people around me that will ‘have my back’ and my best interest at heart?” “When is it time to move on to something else?”
Our esteemed guest helping us tune in to make the right ones is Entertainment Career Coach Rick Goudzwaard proartcoach.com ⭐
Wed 2nd Feb 6pm London GMT

Next Wednesday on The BACK LOUNGE it’s a check in. Talk about anything. How’s your January and 2022 so far?!
Gigs cancelled? Got any work in the diary? Hopes, fears, challenges?! We’ve made it through Blue Monday, but is February a bit like January, and January is a bit like one long Monday? Don’t worry it will be March soon… Join us to commiserate and celebrate ? It’s still better than it was this time last year. Everyone welcome ❤ Wed 26th Jan 6pm GMT

ROADMAP TO SUSTAINABLE TOURING is the first of our BACK LOUNGE workshops with Tour Production Group https://www.tourproductiongroup.co.uk/ – hosted by TPG Sustainability facilitator & tour/production manager Jamal Chalabi & tour/event manager Nathalie Candel. This session will teach the basics of sustainability on tour, from a small van tour to an arena-sized bus tour. We all have a part to play in making a difference to how we tour. To get up to speed register here. It’s FREE Wednesday 19 January 6-7.30pm London.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/231618536277