Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1434375
C A S Q U A R T E R L Y I W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 43 the hardest thing of all. We're always worried that there's not another gig coming. I have to have faith that there always will be another one coming. The power of "no" is crucial to your mental health. In the post audio business, we are trapped in these dark rooms for hours on end. I think we're excited to work, and we're excited to be making money, but you must get out and get some natural sunshine. That extra day of work is not worth your mental health breaking down. I would say to have a plan to either get people to work under you so that by the time you're 40 or 45, you're not constantly doing the work yourself all the time anymore. Also, make sure that you are saving money so that you can see a way out or see a way to buy yourself other options and opportunities. This is a very difficult game to stay in until you retire, so have a plan." –David Crocco, re-recording mixer & owner of A.G.E. Post "This really is a timely subject. Just talking about this subject could save a life. I know we get mental health cover- age through the MPIPHP, but it's also available to us at studios. When my mom passed, management offered it to me at Universal. Sometimes, just know- ing how to access help is all that's nec- essary. I suspect it has to do with work- ing long days in the dark with few breaks. The technology has become so efficient, there's little downtime. It's a depressing environment at times. Peter treat it? And most importantly, how do they learn from it and do their best not to let it overwhelm them? So, I reached out to several friends. Here's what our peers and colleagues—as well as two mental health professionals—have to say. Santa Monica-based licensed psycho- therapist and former documentary producer and development executive, Fred Rosen MFT has this to say: "[Let's] start with the inconsistency of the busi- ness. Sometimes you work a couple of weeks, then you're off until the next gig comes along. Add the long hours and the lack of sleep when you're in pro- duction. The early-morning calls and working late into the night. Add the egos and the ambitions. The dreams of producing or directing. The competition is fierce and the dreams are enormous. It's a lot to balance. Especially if you have a relationship or a family to con- sider. Living your dreams is a wonder- ful gift. Working to make them real demands so much. Therapy is your own private property. It's yours to use as you please. Having a safe place to express anything and everything, I believe, is vital for all of us. Having a therapist who listens to our troubles and our emotional truths can help us to go beyond survival, and, with some help, maybe just thrive a little." "First of all, in this business, we are usually freelancers. When you are young, it's very difficult to say 'No' [to job offers]. If you do your craft well, that mortgage will come. That's probably Reale CAS said in his podcast with me that [mixers] used to get breaks every time there was a reel change (15 min- utes) throughout the day. Now there aren't built-in breaks and you are expected to be working all the time. There's hardly time to go to the bath- room. That's one of the reasons I love working out of my home studio. I make my own hours and take time with the family." –Stephen Tibbo CAS, produc- tion sound mixer & re-recording mixer "One problem with freelancing that doesn't get as much attention as not having enough work is having too much work. Taking everything that's offered and doing horrible turnarounds risk burnout. I think people should try to schedule downtime as much as possible. Don't do a day shift right after a night shift. Give yourself a day to recharge between gigs if at all possible. Also, schedule a vacation and buy plane tickets so you can't flake out on it later. Sometimes I notice myself adding up all the days I turn down or miss out on because of a vacation I've scheduled. It's pointless stress and it's counterproductive. To alleviate too much worry about taking time off, I try to put a little money aside, not only for the trip but also for the bills that will no doubt keep coming. "Downtime is just as important as work time. If you burn yourself out, the worst that can happen is health problems, but you'll also do a less than stellar job and risk not being called back. It's hard to live a life of no paid vacations, but it is possible. Now, if I could only take my own advice! You know what got me thinking this way? When I was getting married, a guy I've worked with for years and years gave me some advice. [I was] starting with the typical, 'Do the honeymoon later' thing and he was like, 'That's a mistake, man. Getting married is a time to celebrate and the honeymoon is a big part of the memory. It's one of those things you don't put off.' We probably never would have gone if we'd put it off. Life got more David Crocco Fred Rosen MFT