From Glastonbury to the Edinburgh Fringe, festivals are a highlight of the year for many performers, technicians, creatives, and other performing arts professionals. With the energy of live audiences, exciting collaborations and the chance to connect with your community in person, it’s an incredibly fulfilling time.
However, it can also be exhausting. Long days, unpredictable conditions, late nights and last-minute changes can take a serious toll on your physical and mental health while working.
At BAPAM, we’re here to help you look after yourself through the busiest parts of the year. Whether you’re performing, touring, crewing, or managing, here are a few ways to stay well this festival season, along with details on where to go for additional support.
1. Follow A Routine (Where Possible)
Festivals can throw everything out of sync. Your usual habits around food, warm-ups, rest or exercise often go out of the window.
While this can be exciting at first, it can leave you feeling worse for wear over time. However, keeping just one or two daily rituals can help your body and mind stay grounded.
That might be a morning stretch, taking a proper lunch break, checking in with a bandmate, or setting aside 10 minutes to rest after a set. Small, consistent actions support recovery and focus. Shared meal times on festival sites can be a great time to fuel up and check in with each other.
A clear itinerary that identifies what needs doing, by who, and when, can help prevent overwhelm.
The InTune platform from PRS Members’ Fund and BAPAM, provides quick and accessible tools and resources to support this. It’s a great pocket companion for busy touring creatives.
2. Balance Socialising, Substances & Self-Care
Festival environments are sociable and celebratory. For many, it’s the one time of year to let loose and enjoy the moment.
That can be a brilliant part of the experience, but it can also become draining. Namely, because substances like alcohol or drugs are often normalised in these settings, and may negatively affect performance, sleep, recovery and mood.
Pay attention to how you feel, and don’t be afraid to set limits. You may also want to build in quiet time to decompress. Remember, you are allowed to take breaks from social spaces or decline another late-night session.
Looking after your energy is vital if you are working back-to-back events, not only for your performance but for your own long-term health and well-being.
3. Don’t Skip Rest
We get it. Good sleep can be hard to come by when you’re camping next to a dance tent or sharing a noisy crew house. But it plays a massive role in your well-being and performance. Lack of sleep increases the risk of physical injury, impairs concentration and affects vocal health.
Luckily, you can get better rest if you’re prepared. Pack earplugs, eye masks, layers for warmth and waterproofing. Rest whenever you can, even if it’s short. Five minutes of calm breathing before bed can help signal your body to wind down and help you catch ZZZs without interruption.
4. Handle Last-Minute Pressure Like a Pro
Whether you’re performing or working behind the scenes, festival work is full of late changes, tight turnarounds and unexpected challenges. This can quickly lead to overwhelm if you don’t have ways to manage it.
Make sure you break tasks down, prioritise what needs attention first, and ask for support where possible. Preparation and pacing go a long way.
So, grab a notebook or make the most of the notes app on your phone. And, yes, this is your sign to pack a portable charger!
5. Reach Out For Support
Navigating festival season gets easier with experience, but it’s always handy to revise your plan with help from professionals.
Look out for onsite support such as:
Learn key self-care skills at BAPAM workshops and training events.
And don’t forget to explore InTune, your free creative health toolkit, available anytime from BAPAM and PRS Members’ Fund.
Stay safe, and take care of yourself out there.