Healthier touring: FZW (DE) on mental health in music industry

Mental health in the music industry is a crucial yet often underrepresented topic. Our German member FZW shares how they stand for care, creativity and community - on stage, backstage, and beyond.

What does taking care of mental health & wellbeing mean to you at FWZ?
At the FZW, we believe that taking care of people’s mental health is just as essential as putting on great shows. Live music can only thrive in an environment where artists, staff, and audiences all feel safe, supported, and welcome. 
Over the past years, we have noticed how the pressures of touring, irregular working hours, and the emotional demands of creative work can affect both artists and our team. That’s why we’ve made mental well-being an ongoing priority at the FZW.

How are you supporting artists and their wellbeing at FZW?
Before each show, our production team takes time to personally welcome artists, making sure they feel comfortable in the space. We provide a quiet backstage area where they can rest and recharge before and after the performance. We also pay close attention to their overall well-being: we make sure that the artists stay in a comfortable hotel and that our catering always provides healthy, balanced meals — because good rest and good food are essential for good performances. We encourage open communication as well — artists are invited to share any specific needs or boundaries they may have. This personal approach has helped many emerging acts, especially those performing abroad for the first time, to feel at ease and perform at their best.

How are you taking care of the team at your venue? 
For our employees and volunteers, we promote a culture of openness and care. We hold regular check-ins to discuss workload, stress, and overall well-being. Whenever possible, we adapt schedules to avoid burnout and ensure everyone gets proper rest between events. In collaboration with local mental health professionals, we’ve also started offering optional workshops on stress management and emotional resilience for our staff.

What do you do in terms of creating safe and welcoming spaces for the audience? 
Creating a mentally healthy atmosphere also means taking care of our audiences. We maintain clear safety policies and collaborate with trained security and awareness teams to prevent harassment and ensure everyone feels included. Our staff is trained to respond calmly and empathetically to any incident or distress situation.  
We also work with local partners to provide information about mental health resources in our community.

Looking ahead, what can we expect from FZW in the future?
We know that mental health is not a one-time initiative, but a continuous process.
As part of Liveurope’s 2025 theme, we’re committed to deepening our practices — whether that’s improving artist hospitality, expanding our staff training, or joining campaigns that destigmatize mental health in the live music sector.

By caring for each other, we make the FZW a space where creativity, safety, and empathy can truly coexist.