{"id":3535,"date":"2021-10-01T17:15:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T17:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/01\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/"},"modified":"2021-10-01T17:15:35","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T17:15:35","slug":"how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/01\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Handle the Anxiety of Show Reopenings"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span>So the light is turning green, but at what cost? Industries are attempting to resume activity as normal, albeit this return is widely varied across the board. The only common variable seems to be that this \u201cgo ahead\u201d we\u2019ve been waiting for has finally made its entrance. However, but the jury is still very much out on how this is making us feel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Rewind 6 months, I\u2019m enjoying a midday quarantine nap: dreaming, chasing that visceral feeling live music exudes. I am being moved by the music, physically \u2014 we are so packed into a crowd that my movement wasn\u2019t just restricted, it was being dictated by basslines blasting from the speakers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>I realize this might very well be someone\u2019s nightmare, but my experience was akin to Temple Grandin\u2019s intention behind her hugging machine \u2013 I was calm, I had found solace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>As my alarm rips this peace away, my eyes regain focus. The TV is on, depicting people hugging, kissing, greeting each other upon arrival. I cringe, becoming tense: why are these people touching? Where are their masks? There are so many people in one room \u2013 this is all so overwhelming to watch, to connect the dots. My return to reality was met with scenes of a fantasy world in which COVID didn\u2019t exist, but my mind hasn\u2019t quite caught up yet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Has anyone else experienced this? You\u2019re in the midst of a Netflix-binge, in my case <\/span><i><span>Bridgerton<\/span><\/i><span>, and all of a sudden you\u2019re screaming at your laptop, trying to stop people from hugging. Nope, just me?<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/01\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/#Everyone_is_approaching_the_reopen_differently\" >Everyone is approaching the reopen differently<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/01\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/#Take_your_mental_health_seriously\" >Take your mental health seriously<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Everyone_is_approaching_the_reopen_differently\"><\/span><span>Everyone is approaching the reopen differently<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Well this is the reality: we are in a collective experience. We have connected, adapted and endured. But how this affects us, our emotions, feelings, reactions, physical and mental health is unique to the individual.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>There is no one size fits all approach to getting through lockdown. There is no right or wrong way to occupy your day.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>In the same breadth, your approach to reopenings are uniquely your own. Part of you may want to go from 0-60, run to the pubs, reunite with familiar faces, get back on public transport, eat indoors!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But it\u2019s okay not to feel okay. We\u2019ve changed more than we\u2019ve realized over the past year. We\u2019ve adapted to survive, but it also means we\u2019re another person coming out the other side.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But what are we meant to do with this person? The one who is suddenly hesitant to leave the house after having spent months fantasizing about the return to stage, experiencing people in 3D? The one who is craving to perform live, but the act of getting back on the road feels like driving without headlights?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>There is no one answer out there to what this is going to look like, feel like. <strong>When asked, Blue Rhythm\u2019s Head Coach gave us this tidbit:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI think we\u2019ve come to terms with expecting live music and events to be carried out differently, and to inherently feel different, but we also need to be aware of the expectations we have for, and put on, ourselves. We need to learn to give ourselves that same level of understanding: to recognize you, yourself have changed, just as much as the world around you.\u201d \u2013 Coach John<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For performers, \u201creturning to stage may feel like returning home and provide a sense of belonging that has been missing. This could also feel unreachable, or bring about feelings of discomfort. Give yourself time and space to breathe. Taking small steps towards reintroducing yourself to performance and reconnecting to what this means to you, can help to reintegrate you in these new surroundings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Allowing yourself to feel more than one emotion, and recognizing that each one of them is valid; for example giving each feeling a seat at the table, a voice, and using this to help guide you, and to even help express yourself as a performer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Take_your_mental_health_seriously\"><\/span><span>Take your mental health seriously<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Perhaps just as important as the advice above is to also consider the following: mental health is never something to approach with a one size fits all mentality. Some things may work for you, while others just aren\u2019t the right fit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>We are massive promoters of getting support, but we also realize reaching out is not always easy. Trying to take that first step can feel more like a stage dive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>So we thought we\u2019d meet you halfway: we asked for support and here\u2019s what we\u2019ve learned. We\u2019re sharing with you to provide clarity, normalize these experiences and guide you onwards:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/attachment\/1-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/1.png?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/attachment\/2-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/2.png?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/attachment\/3-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/3.png?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/attachment\/4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/4.png?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/attachment\/5-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/5.png?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/attachment\/6-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/6.png?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/attachment\/7\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/908233.smushcdn.com\/2197686\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/7.png?lossy=0&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/musician-tips\/how-to-handle-the-anxiety-of-show-reopenings\/\" target=\"_blank\">How to Handle the Anxiety of Show Reopenings<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">DIY Musician<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So the light is turning green, but at what cost? Industries are attempting to resume activity as normal, albeit this return is widely varied across the board. The only common variable seems to be that this \u201cgo ahead\u201d we\u2019ve been waiting for has finally made its entrance. However, but the jury is still very much out on how this is making us feel. Rewind 6 months, I\u2019m enjoying a midday quarantine nap: dreaming, chasing that visceral feeling live music exudes. I am being moved by the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-best-seo-blogs"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3535"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3535\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}