Hello, sunshine! The Summer Solstice on the 21st June marks the longest day of the year. For many performing arts professionals, it also arrives during a busy period of festivals, outdoor performances, touring, community projects and creative health work.
Longer days and warmer weather can bring welcome opportunities, but they can also create additional demands on your health and wellbeing. Here are some simple ways to stay well this summer as a performing arts professional.
1. Stay Hydrated
Hydration is particularly important in the summer, and not only for those relaxing in the heat. Performers also need to monitor their hydration, as even mild dehydration can affect concentration, energy levels, physical performance, and vocal function.
If you’re working outdoors or in a space without climate control, keep water readily available and drink regularly throughout the day rather than waiting until you feel thirsty. You can find some more advice about hydration in BAPAM’s Dietary Advice for Performance Professionals resource.
2. Protect Yourself From the Sun
Whether you’re working at a festival, leading an outdoor workshop, or travelling between venues, prolonged sun exposure can take its toll without proper protection. In cases of severe sunburn, it might even affect your performance.
To avoid burns and damage, use sunscreen, seek shade where possible, wear suitable clothing and remember that UV levels can remain high even on cloudy days.
Pro Tip: You can check the UV levels via the Met Office forecasts.
Read more about skin health for performing artists now.
3. Plan for Changing Performance Conditions
Summer often means working in unfamiliar environments as directors take performances from cosy theatres to the great outdoors. However, hot weather, uneven staging and surfaces, bright sunlight and increased background noise can all affect your performance and in some cases, cause injuries.
To prepare for success, build in extra preparation time and, where possible, check venue conditions in advance. Performing arts support starts early!
You should also make sure you have everything you need to work safely and comfortably, which might mean creating a summer performance ‘work bag’ checklist for yourself. This may include:
- SPF
- Sun hats
- Comfortable clothing
- Proper footwear
- Water
- Nutritious snacks
Backstage professionals can read guidance on protecting their physical health from BAPAM and ABTT here: Improving the Physical Health of Backstage Staff – Association of British Theatre Technicians.
4. Check In With Your Hearing Health
Festivals and outdoor events can expose performers and production professionals to high noise levels over long periods.
If you’re regularly around amplified sound, loud instruments or noisy environments, use appropriate hearing protection where needed and pay attention to symptoms such as ringing in the ears or muffled hearing. If you notice either of these, it’s time to contact a healthcare provider for a check-up.
5. Be Mindful of Alcohol in Social Settings
Summer and the Solstice bring opportunities to connect at festivals, post-show gatherings, outdoor parties, and pub gardens while the evenings are still light.
While social connection is important, alcohol can contribute to dehydration and affect sleep and recovery. Alternating alcoholic drinks with water can help you enjoy social occasions while supporting your wellbeing.
Learn more about alcohol and drinking responsibly.
6. Don’t Overlook Rest and Recovery
The longer daylight hours can make it tempting to do more and overbook yourself, and often it feels like you have more hours in each day than during the winter, but recovery and rest remain essential to a sustainable career.
Rather than pushing yourself while the sun is high, make sure to prioritise sleep, schedule downtime, and create opportunities to recharge, which can help prevent fatigue and burnout during busy periods.
Supporting Your Wellbeing This June
This June, BAPAM has plenty of workshops organised to help you learn and grow, with insights from plenty of industry professionals and performing arts practitioners.
On 17 June, Relationships and Boundaries explores how to establish and maintain healthy professional boundaries when working in creative health settings.
On 23 June, Identifying Individual Need for Support provides guidance for artists working in creative health settings on recognising signs of mental health difficulties in session participants, understanding potential triggers and knowing when and how to effectively help people access support.
On 24 June, RSM and BAPAM Present: Performance Anxiety provides practical, evidence-based strategies to understand and manage stage fright, including tools to build confidence and develop more consistent performance under pressure.
See all upcoming BAPAM performing arts medicine training events here.
Last Thoughts
As we approach the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year offers a useful reminder: sustainable creative careers are built on talent and dedication, and most importantly, habits that support our health.
Keep reading about healthy practice and find performing arts medicine resources on the BAPAM blog.