PSA: THE BIGGER PICTURE
ILMC PRODUCTION MEETING For the past 12 years, the organisers of the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) have hosted an annual day of production related discussion, choosing the hottest topics, assembling panels and inviting the great and the good of global production to engage and hopefully, move forwards with improvements.
pressure on crews to work longer hours. A normal working day for crews, said Vaughan, begins at 6.30am and ends 20 hours later. “If we don’t do something about this, the government agencies will,” stated Vaughan. Dr Kate Bunyan discussed the consequences of chronic sleep deprivation for workers’ physical wellbeing. “We have a group of highly qualified professionals whose lives are shortened just because of their work patterns,” summarised Bunyan, apologising for being the “bringer of glorious doom”. Deptford John moved the conversation to mental health: “When I started, rehab was for quitters and sleep was for babies,” said the touring guitar tech. “If it’s a weakness to admit you’re depressed, who can you turn to?” The loss of friends and colleagues to suicide is a sad reality, which Armitage revealed is all too common for those working in the industry: “no one on tour is getting the care they should get ,” perhaps having missed the PSA’s work to fund Mental Health First Aid training for self employed members. However, some help is on offer, as Chula Goonewardene, clinical consultant for Music Support, explained. “It is possible to find people that pathway into care,” said Goonewardene, speaking of the importance of well-handled crisis intervention. The psychotherapist also stressed the need for a “dual-pronged approach”, with preventative measures facilitating a culture shift and helping people to spot warning signs. Production Manager, Joanna Hartle, explained the need to educate crew members, allowing them to capitalise on specialist skill sets and move industry if desired. “I could see that my former colleagues weren’t able to get out of the industry,” said Hartle. Vaughan suggested that a “guideline document” outlining good working practices could be put together by IPM members, although crew welfare issues had already been addressed in the purple guide and safe working hours were also prescribed in the Working Time Directive, currently largely ignored in favour of working fewer people for longer. Dr Kate mentioned several other industries that have similar guidelines and that there is, as we say, legislation in place that could be referred to.
We can never be sure what’s discussed during coffee breaks and over lunch, but we do have a run down of what was openly discussed during the 3 main sessions. Guest host Rachel Haughey, of Four Corners of the World oversaw proceedings. THE SHOW MUST GO ON, BUT AT WHAT COST? Chaired by Chris Vaughan, Production Manager (UK), with panellists ‘Deptford’ John Armitage, Guitar Hospital (UK); Dr Kate Bunyan, MB Medical Solutions (UK); Chula Goonewardene, CM Therapy & Steps2Recovery (UK); and Joanna Hartle, Hartle O’Hare (UK). Not the financial cost, the human cost, that was the opening discussion of the day, a crucial debate because, as Chaiman Vaughan stated “A disproportionate amount of friends and colleagues are not making it to their 60th birthday,” with Deptford John expressing the same view; way too many funerals requiring the purchase of more than one dark suit in a lifetime of touring. Vaughan explained that the move from theatre to arena shows has put 92
