SECURE National Media Recognition

Stampede Press UK

3 days ago

I think a lot of musicians, managers, and self-employed creatives need to hear this right now:

It’s ok to admit you are completely exhausted and feel a bit rubbish (sometimes)....

We live in a world where nobody can really switch off anymore. Even without the added pressures of running a band; a full-time job can still means the constant buzz of WhatsApp, DMs, and notifications = work follows everyone home in their pocket.

But when your band is your business?

Those boundaries don’t just blur: they get completely vaporised and the pressure that comes with that... it can be highly stressful.

You find yourself pulling 18-hour days, staring at your laptop/phone, and your brain still tries to convince you that you’ve achieved absolutely nothing when you've gone above and beyond. You feel like you’re failing, but the reality is you’re actually working your butt off.

And let's be honest: nothing you love doing should make you feel like rubbish. Especially when you are giving it everything you've got.

The problem is that so much of the work we do in this game is completely invisible. You aren’t just writing songs, editing video, or sending pitches.

You’re managing egos, navigating creative compromises, putting out fires, and carrying (sometimes) heavy anxiety about the future of the project.

Because you can’t "see" that emotional heavy-lifting, your brain discounts it. You don't count it as real productivity, but it drains your own battery faster than anything else.

Look, the rewards in this industry are incredible. Having real fans support your music, building relationships with venues and festivals, getting on stage and playing killer gigs: that is what we live for. That’s why we do it.

But those wins shouldn't cost you your sanity.

When your creative passion is your livelihood, your identity gets completely tangled up in the digital machine. If the band has a slow week, or an algorithm shifts, you feel like a personal failure.

So you overcompensate. You do more. You work harder. And you slide straight into burnout.

Most artists and managers I know don’t have a talent or work-ethic problem.

They have an overwhelm problem.

So how do we protect our minds and wellbeing? Below is what works for me:

. Start acknowledging the invisible work. Give yourself some credit for the mental energy it takes just to keep the ship moving forward.

. Define what “done” looks like for the day. Set a few realistic goals, and when they’re hit, force yourself to step away from the screen.

. You are a human being who runs a business and makes music. You are not the business itself. Your self-worth cannot be tied to the daily fluctuations of band/management partnerships where some things are completely out of your control.

. Treat the band like a business, absolutely. Work with good people who are rational/patient/calm under pressure and more importantly, supportive and understanding of said pressures that affect you. Strategy matters. But don't let the business eat the creative alive. Without you, it's likely nothing would be happening.

Protect your head.
Protect your creativity.

The human side of music matters.

Always will. X

(Rob) ... See MoreSee Less