10am

Walking into a stadium at 9am on a show day is something you don’t get to do very often. I’m used to being part of the throng of fans that walks in full of adrenaline and excitement ready to see my favourite band. This time round, I’m here to offer on the spot mental health and wellbeing support for the crew working on an Australian run of shows for a major touring artist.

I walk into what feels like a microcosm of the outside world. Among the groups of international and local crew working to put on a huge show, I can sense the power dynamics, the hierarchies, the push and pull of different priorities and perspectives all jostling to be on top. There are dozensmicro-teams working on their own part if the complex puzzle that is a stadium-scale show – from rigging to lighting, construction to sound.

I notice early on that these priorities and dynamics are shifting constantly. It highlights the adaptability of the crew in a high pressure environment. 

Within the first hour of being there, I am pulled aside by a crew leader named Clare*, asking me to keep an eye on one of their team members – they’re not themselves today, and haven’t been for a couple of days. Clare says they’ve recently lost a parent. 

Work for crew in the music industry can be inconsistent and casualised. It’s often a case of ‘take it while you can get it’ – which makes stopping for the normal parts of life, like grief, can be tricky and sometimes impossible. Clare says she’s had a chat to the team member themselves, but an independent ear may be helpful – they’re glad I’m here. 

12pm

I join a little crowd forming in the  lunch room. The mood is different here, less intense and harried, more relaxed. It’s a space for the crew to wind down and re-charge their batteries.  

After a gentle ribbing about my hi-vis, we start to chat about some of the stigma around talking about mental health in these types of working environments. There’s a consensus – the go, go, go pace and ‘show must go on’ realities of a live touring route can mean it’s hard to put your hand up and say ‘I’m not doing great’. When I tell them about my own experience as a touring muso, they’re more candid about theirs. I give them my little spiel about breaking down that stigma, and normalising conversations about mental health and wellbeing. How a lunchroom like this can be a great place to talk.

They open up to me about some challenges they face. A common theme emerges with international crew members who have been touring with this artist for a while, being away from home. The locals in the room can relate too. The two crews, who can sometimes find themselves at odds as they jockey for position as top dog, have found some common ground. 

They go on to talk about long days that sometimes don’t have a solid end time, always being switched on and not having your loved ones around you to decompress. This conversation seems to help them blow off some steam. They have a laugh, and I offer some self care tips to help with homesickness. Creating space to be present, mindful and making time to do things for yourself is a crucial part of rest.

1pm

After lunch, the teams got back to work. The pressure builds as it gets closer to show time. This is where good leadership really makes a difference.

I watch a team huddle backstage. The leader, Clare, speaks with respect, calm and authority. You can tell she likes her crew, and the respect goes both ways. It’s reflected in her team and the way they work. It helps create a safe and positive working environment, which is so important in these high-pressure environments. . 

As the afternoon carries on, I have more conversations with workers about the varying age demographics amongst the crew. They tell me about some tension between the younger and more senior employees. 

I was interested to hear about the age hierarchy, and the effects it can have on motivation and morale. I chat with Clare about this. She smiles wryly and tells me that this is another common theme; it’s all about respect – the younger members of the team tell her about not being taken seriously in positions of authority, the older ones talk about being made to feel like they’re irrelevant. A tale as old as time apparently. Clare handles this one by doling out respect equally, and expecting the team to do the same. She recognises the contributions of every team member, no matter their age or their job in the team. This conversation brought home the importance of having a respectful and kind leader who inspires their team, who sees everyone as equal, and deserves the same amount of respect, no matter their age, gender, or experience level. 

3pm

The teams are working furiously on the final touches for the show before gates open. 

I run into the employee that Clare asked me to keep an eye on earlier during the day. He opens up about how back to back shifts and uncertain hours have been affecting his mental health and wellbeing, especially with the recent loss of his father. He expressed feelings of fatigue, and loss of motivation for a job that he once adored. He’s worried that being visibly down might impact his next job offer, which compounds the stress. Getting older in this industry can be hard.

I reassure him that our conversations are between us – I don’t report to his manager and what he says is confidential. We take a walk and I listen as he tells me a bit about how he’s coping. I provide some practical advice for dealing with grief, burnout and fatigue. I share that it’s easy to feel less passionate about work when you’re running on empty, and that these long hours are bound to take a toll on your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. I suggest finding a clear and quiet space to take some deep breaths and settle his mind for a moment before getting back to it. It’s a kind of mindfulness. I give him the number for the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline, and tell him that it’s a place he can go to talk it out.    

As a social worker, a big part of my role is to reinforce that seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness. I ensure that everyone feels validated and respected when talking about what’s on their mind. 

5pm

It’s time for the afternoon crew to wrap up after a long day. There are still lots of people who’ll be continuing on through the night, but for now Clare’s crew and I are on the way out.

After such an intense couple of hours, I talk to them about offloading stress. Substance abuse is still quite common amongst crewing culture, especially in group settings where you can be more inclined to “let loose” to wind down.

We talk about some alternatives, and about some of the things to have in place to help with stress. It might sound a bit pat, but good healthy food, hydration and downtime. Crewing jobs can be socially, mentally and physically draining, so ensuring that the crew are looking after themselves is a top priority for me. 

We say some goodbyes, I take a few more light hearted jibes about my hi vis, and they’re off. Clare thanks me for being there. She thinks it’s been good to have some outside perspective from people who still get the industry. She takes the number down for the Wellbeing Helpline – it’s a good resource, she says. I share some more of our resources and she thanks me, she’ll look into it, share it with her team. We shake hands and she’s off too – somehow she still has the energy to head to the gym to wind down. 

Not me, I’m off home to the dog. 

As a social worker, being able to support crew in high-pressure environments was a truly eye-opening and impactful experience. I learnt about the impact that positive leadership can have to create a safe and respectful working environment, and the importance of breaking down those social barriers of asking for help when you need it. 

You can access some of our workplace support resources here. 

We acknowledge the valuable involvement of CrewCare and our network of psychologists in providing mental health and wellbeing support to crew throughout this run of shows.

*Not their real names