The live music industry is, at its heart, built on connection. However, there is no denying for many of us working behind the scenes in what from the outside might appear to be the rock ’n’ roll party-on lifestyle, the lived experience can be markedly different.
A career in touring is defined by long hours, transient working environments, and limited structural support, and it’s only recently that we’ve begun to acknowledge this working pattern places significant strain on mental and physical health.
The pandemic brought an abrupt two-year pause to live events and travel, and it was within this context, plus struggling with my own mental wellbeing at the outset of COVID-19, that The BACK LOUNGE was born.
For many, including myself, this time exposed not only the financial precariousness but also the psychological cost of an industry that often relies on resilience without consistently resourcing it.
My experience of uncertainty and declining mental health highlighted a fundamental absence of more than just income as work dried up, which also lost connection to a tribe who could relate to the fragility of our identities, given our chosen careers, and who provided a space where it felt safe to share.
The BACK LOUNGE emerged in response, an online peer support group and, importantly, a space to bring together anyone connected by their passion for music, whether crew, performers, freelance or employed, in a way that encouraged shared understanding and mutual support around the world, reflecting the global nature of our jobs.
From a psychotherapy perspective, the protective role of community in relation to anxiety, depression, and burnout is well documented. Social connection can mitigate the impact of stress, particularly in professions where individuals operate outside of traditional organisational frameworks. Apply this to our industry and absence of structure can lead to individuals functioning in relative isolation without access to an obvious hierarchy of support. Sound familiar?!
The BACK LOUNGE, alongside a growing number of communities and peer-led support networks, seeks to address this by offering an opportunity for people to speak candidly about both professional and personal challenges. These communities are not only supportive but also generative, creating a sense of shared identity and collective resilience, and whilst lone silos might struggle to bring change, coming together can certainly keep the conversation going, strengthen our resolve and influence accountability and best practice.
The legacy of the pandemic has also contributed to a broader cultural shift. There is now an increased willingness across our industry to acknowledge and engage in discussions around mental health and addiction – areas that have historically been stigmatised or minimised. Community safe spaces have both benefited from and contributed to this shift, helping to normalise vulnerability and encourage people to seek help. In doing so, we can challenge the long-standing narrative of self-sufficiency and the ‘just get on with it’ attitude and look to create a more relational and interdependent way of working together.
As the touring landscape continues to evolve, shaped by economic pressures, shifting audience behaviours, and the broader global context, the need for such communities becomes increasingly apparent, way beyond the pandemic.
For all of us who are committed to working in this industry we love, for whom navigating ongoing uncertainty has become the norm, these networks offer both emotional and practical support. They are a means of sharing knowledge, adapting to change, and sustaining wellbeing in an environment that can otherwise feel isolating when the struggle is real.
Ultimately, The BACK LOUNGE represents both a personal response to a moment of crisis and an ongoing collective response to an enduring need as the community grows.
It affirms a simple yet powerful premise: that connection is fundamental to sustaining both the individuals within it and the touring industry as a whole.
Words and photo: Suzi Green
