Working in the Australian Entertainment Industry: Final Report Dr Julie van den Eynde Professor Adrian Fisher Associate Professor Christopher Sonn October 2016. Contact the Authors Dr Julie van den Eynde Email: [email protected] Professor Adrian Fisher Email: [email protected] Associate Professor Chris Sonn Email: [email protected] Victoria University PO Box 14428 Melbourne Victoria, 8001 Australia Telephone: +61 3 9919 6100 Acknowledgments This research was funded by and conducted in collaboration with Entertainment Assist. We would like to acknowledge the input from the General Manager of Entertainment Assist Susan Cooper, Donna Gross, and members of the Entertainment Assist Board at different stages of the planning, implementation, and recruiting phases of the project. Visit Entertainment Assist website at www.entertainmentassist.org.au. We would also like to thank and recognise the contributions of our talented and dedicated team of researchers from Victoria University, who provided their support, skills and expertise to the project: Dr. Scott McDonald, Dr. Lutfiye Ali, Dr. Sally-Anne Free, Dr. Romina Iebra Aizpurua, Elysa Whelan, and Joshua Samuel. © Victoria University 2016 ISBN 978-1-86272-711-3 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................. xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND TO THIS REPORT ........................................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER 1. LITERATURE REVIEW: BACKGROUND RESEARCH ...................................................... i The creative career ..................................................................................................................... 9 Employment patterns in Australia ............................................................................................. 10 The creative work environment ................................................................................................. 12 Group 1, Performing Artists and Music Composers .................................................................. 13 Musicians ............................................................................................................................. 13 Classical musicians environment ......................................................................................... 15 Ballet companies environment ............................................................................................. 16 Group 2, Performing Arts Support Workers .............................................................................. 17 Group 3, Broadcasting, Film and Recorded Media Equipment Operators ................................ 18 Mental health ............................................................................................................................ 19 Performance anxiety ................................................................................................................. 21 Suicidality, longevity and death. ............................................................................................... 22 Drug and alcohol use ................................................................................................................ 25 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 26 CHAPTER 2. METHOD ......................................................................................................................... 28 Phase 1 .................................................................................................................................... 28 Recruitment .......................................................................................................................... 28 iii Participants .......................................................................................................................... 29 Interview schedule................................................................................................................ 29 Phase 2 .................................................................................................................................... 30 Participants .......................................................................................................................... 30 Summary of Participants ...................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER 3. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ........................................................................................ 49 Passion for their work ........................................................................................................... 49 Culture .................................................................................................................................. 49 Group 1, Performing Artists and Music Composers ................................................................. 50 Passion for their work ........................................................................................................... 50 Culture .................................................................................................................................. 51 Summation ............................................................................................................................... 53 Group 2, Performing Arts Support Workers ............................................................................. 54 Passion for their work ........................................................................................................... 54 Culture .................................................................................................................................. 55 Summation ............................................................................................................................... 56 Group 3, Broadcasting, Film and Recorded Media Equipment Operators ............................... 57 Passion for their work ........................................................................................................... 57 Culture .................................................................................................................................. 58 Summation ............................................................................................................................... 59 CHAPTER 4. MENTAL HEALTH OF WORKERS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY ................... 60 Work Conditions ................................................................................................................... 60 Working in Evenings and Night Times .................................................................................. 60 Working on the Weekends ................................................................................................... 61 iv Working Unpredictable hours ............................................................................................... 62 Impact of Work Conditions ................................................................................................... 63 Sleep Patterns ...................................................................................................................... 63 Not enough sleep, and always feel tired ............................................................................... 63 Disrupted Sleep .................................................................................................................... 64 Insomnia ............................................................................................................................... 64 Problems Finding Time for their Families ............................................................................. 65 Difficulties Maintaining their Social Life ................................................................................. 66 Difficulties Keeping Contact with their Friends in their Industry ............................................. 66 Group 1, Performing Artists and Music Composers .................................................................. 67 Work on evenings/night time ................................................................................................ 67 Working on the Weekends ................................................................................................... 67 Working Unpredictable hours ............................................................................................... 68 Impact of Work Conditions ................................................................................................... 69 Not enough sleep, and always feel tired ............................................................................... 69 Disrupted Sleep .................................................................................................................... 69 Insomnia ............................................................................................................................... 70 Group 2, Performing Arts Support Workers .............................................................................