Previously often ignored, mental health is rightly becoming a topic more and more people are beginning to talk about. Today we are going to look at some of the possible implications of being a performer in relation to mental health.

When you are starting out in the industry, you are constantly fighting battles for people to like you. On stage, no friends or family in a crowd offering no interaction can make a performer extremely paranoid about the quality of their performance and their material. This can easily take its toll on an artist throughout their career. Questioning whether you are doing something wrong or whether you are not playing the appropriate songs for the audience. Many factors can affect the crowd. Of course, quality of the performance is one but also the time of the day (amount of alcohol consumed) and the general ethos of the venue (whether the people are there for a chat or to watch a performance). Don’t be too disheartened, as what doesn’t go down well at one venue can still be a huge hit at the next.

For many touring musicians, mental health can be a big problem. Away from family, friends and home comforts, touring can be unsettling and continues to lack foundation and routine. Going from the high of being on stage to then coming down every night can be a huge fluctuation of reality. Touring as a band means some company, but also means there is not much time for yourself to recharge, this can be exhausting and can once again severely affect mental health.

Creativity is a fantastic outlet but the uncertainty of your creative success can also be a huge issue. Music fans don’t stick around, unless you offer them something new and of quality. Any sort of feedback will have some sort of impact on you. It is important to not let any negative feedback cripple you as a performer. You need to firstly assess the reliability and helpfulness of the feedback, if you think it is worth taking it on board, then implement the feedback in the way that suits your direction as an artist.

One big thing you can do is try your best to stick to a routine (no matter how basic). This can help your mind. Get up, make your bed, do yoga, work out, have a coffee, read. Anything you can do routinely at home or on the road can make you feel much more comfortable. If you sing at weekends, find something to do in the week to make some extra money. Having a steady income will allow you flexibility in turning other pass times into money making ventures.

If you feel that you need to talk about your mental health then plenty of help in now available. One of the most popular is the charity Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.