Features
Study: Entertainment Workers Suicide Prone
The first of a three-part study into the pitfalls and challenges of working in the Australian entertainment industry threw up some sobering facts.
“Passion, Pride & Pitfalls: Working in the Australian Entertainment Industry” revealed that due to stress, competition and jealousy in the industry, those involved are more likely to suffer from mental problems and have higher rate of suicide.
The survey is being done by Victoria University for Entertainment Assist, an association set up to help executives and workers who have fallen on health and financial hard times.
One part of the research was conducted with executives. The second is with workers and performers. The third phase will identify strategies and solutions based on data collected from 3,000 participants.
Most of the music industry earn less than the average Australian: performers about A$44,600 ($34,384) per year, support workers A$39,300 ($30,695) and equipment operators and roadies A$64,440 ($50,338).
The new research fits in with 2012 findings by the Australian Road Crew Association, that 70 crew members committed suicide in a five-year period. “Lousy hours, broken bodies, collapsed relationships – the music industry forgets that roadies are the backbone of the industry,” organizer Ian Peel told Pollstar. “Without us, there’d be no shows, promoters or agents.”