In recent years the subject of mental health in the music industry has thankfully become a much bigger conversation than it once was – particularly in the world of dance music and clubbing. Gone are the days when one would be expected to simply ‘suck it up’ and testimonials from the likes of Motor City Drum Ensemble and Benga have demonstrated that being really successful isn’t always a guarantee that you will be happy and healthy, and success comes with its own pitfalls. DJs and gigging artists operate in an environment where excess is prevalent and, when indulged without due care and attention, will almost certainly result in unhealthy states of mental wellbeing. And there’s the constant pressure and scrutiny that social media enables…
So, we know about mental health problems in music. But what can we do about it? What steps can you take as a DJ or musician to look after yourself? These are some of the questions we hope to address at our upcoming event for World Mental Health Awareness Day on 10 October. It’s titled A Guide to Survival in the Music Industry and is open to all Point Blank students, past and present. We hope you can join us, to do so please RSVP here. Please note that this is not open to the general public. If you’ve never studied with us but are interested in this subject and would like to know more, Help Musicians UK is a great place to look for resources.
The main panel on the night will consist of a range of experienced music industry professionals. Firstly Saytek, an internationally touring live-performer, music producer and expert instructor at Point Blank. Saytek spoke to us on this matter back in May. He will be joined by another instructor in Sam Willis, who has released on Kompakt, R&S and others, and teaches Music Industry with us. Olga Heijns, who manages Laidback Luke and heads up Unmanagable Artists, will add her own considerable knowledge on the matter to the panel, as will Aidan Culley of Help Musicians UK and Sam Jordan of the Musicians Union.
Also in attendance will be representatives from ACS, the industry leaders in protective earplugs for loud clubs and gig venues. They work with Help Musicians UK as part of the Hearing Health Scheme to give a large discount on their pro-series of fitted hearing protectors which also affords you a free hearing test from Harley Street Hearing. During the course of the evening, attendees will have the chance to learn more about protecting your hearing and sample ACS products.
Order of Events
Date: Wednesday 10th October, 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Location: Point Blank Music School, 26 Orsman Road, London, N1 5QJ
– 7:30pm – 8:15pm – Main Panel Discussion: ‘Tips for a Balanced Lifestyle Within Music’. Panellists include:
- Declan McGlynn (Moderator)
- Saytek
- Sam Willis
- Olga Heijns (Unmanageable Artists, Laidback Luke)
- Aidan Culley (Help Musicians UK)
- Sam Jordan (Musicians Union)
– 8:15pm – 8:30pm – Q&A
– 8:30pm – 9pm – Support Options in the Music Industry: Presentations from Help Musicians UK and Musician’s Union
– 9:00 – 9:45pm – Nibbles and Drink, Networking, ACS Product Sampling
– 9:45 – Close
The panel will cover topics including financial management, substance abuse, the benefits of collaboration, rejection and social media.
If you’re not a student or alumnus and cannot attend, why not consider a course with us? We offer production courses ranging from the introductory to degree level, as well as lauded courses in radio and DJing among others. You can try samples of a range of our courses at the ‘free stuff‘ section of our website, and we’re always happy to be contacted, so don’t hesitate to call us on +44 20 7729 4884.
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