> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hypebot.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Psychology of Touring: 4 Skills Every Artist Should Practice - URL: https://www.hypebot.com/the-psychology-of-touring-4-skills-every-artist-should-practice/ - Published: 2026-11-13T11:05:13.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-13T11:05:13.000Z - Description: A music industry psychotherapist shares four essential skills to help touring artists manage stress, navigate relationships, and protect their wellbeing. - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Mental Health, psychology, music psychology, Music therapy, therapy, Health & Safety, DIY Advice & Tips, DIY, MITC, wellness, #trending *By* [***Tamsin Embleton***](https://www.embletonpsychotherapy.com/?ref=hypebot.com)*, Founder of* [***The Music Industry Therapist Collective CIC (MITC)***](https://www.musicindustrytherapists.com/?ref=hypebot.com) [Touring](https://www.hypebot.com/tag/touring/) can be hugely rewarding. It's where you bring your records to life, meet your fans and hone your skills as a performer. It's also demanding, particularly when packed schedules leave little time for rest and recovery. Long days, lots of travel, irregular sleep, constant change, time away from home and the pressure to deliver an incredible show night after night can take a toll. After working as a **venue and festival booker, artist manager,** and **tour manager,** I've spent the last ten years as a **psychotherapist** specializing in the music industry. I’ve helped artists and crew navigate everything from performance pressure and difficult group dynamics to sudden fame, media storms, and band breakups. One thing I've learnt is that being this year's hot ticket and knowing how to take care of yourself on tour are two very different things. [Elite athletes](https://www.hypebot.com/how-an-athletic-mindset-can-help-artists-with-performance-anxiety/) are taught that preparation, rest and recovery are part of performing at a high level. It's time the music industry caught up! At [The Music Industry Therapist Collective](https://www.musicindustrytherapists.com/?ref=hypebot.com), our goal is to make access to specialist [mental health](https://www.hypebot.com/tag/mental-health/) support a standard part of touring. Currently, while pressures exist at every level of the business, access to appropriate support does not. That's why we've launched [**Pay It Forward**](https://www.musicindustrytherapists.com/payitforward/apply/?ref=hypebot.com), a new industry-funded initiative offering free mental health support, workshops and guidance for 150 small and mid-scale tours over the next 3 years. While improving access to professional support is essential, there are also plenty of things you and your team can do to make life on the road go as smoothly as possible. How you handle the unexpected, deal with disagreements and look after each other can all make a difference. Here are four skills I’d encourage every touring artist to practice. ## **1\. Stay flexible** Whether it's faulty in-ear monitors, a wayward bandmate or a reduced set length, even with the best will in the world, things don't always pan out the way you expect them to. So what can you do when the shit hits the fan? Psychological flexibility is about adapting to circumstances you can't always control, recognizing what you're feeling and choosing how to respond rather than acting on impulse. It takes a bit of practice. Artists and crew tend to be pretty resourceful (you kind of have to be to survive the music business!). Put that resourcefulness to good work by anticipating what might go wrong and having a back-up plan where you can. Before heading out, think through a few 'what if?' scenarios with your team: - What happens if someone becomes unwell? - Who could step in? - What if your soundcheck ends up being a brief line check? - If you have to shorten the set, which tracks could you cut and what happens to the segue? - Who needs to make decisions at times like this, and who needs to be kept informed? When something does go wrong, focus on what’s within your current power to influence, rather than getting caught up in how things *should* have gone. Try to make the next best decision. You don't have to solve everything at once, or pretend you're not affected by what's happened. For now, deal with what's in front of you, and take one step at a time. **Tip:** Notice, Pause, Choose. When something goes wrong, notice how you're responding. Are you feeling anxious, frustrated or overwhelmed? Recognizing what you're feeling can help you make sense of your internal reaction, rather than getting swept up in it. Pause before reacting and ask yourself: What matters most right now? What outcome am I hoping for, and how can I respond in a way that's most likely to get me there? Afterwards, take some time to debrief with your team. Listen to the perspectives in the room. What happened? What went well? What could you do differently next time? The aim is to learn from the experience and build confidence in handling future challenges. ## **2\. Learn to tolerate (reasonable) discomfort** Not every audience will be up for it, not every reviewer will get what you've created, and not everyone you collaborate with will agree with your creative decisions. Sometimes you'll disappoint people, and sometimes other people will disappoint you. That can be particularly hard to swallow if you've learnt to keep people happy as a way of keeping them close, or if you've become accustomed to people blowing smoke up your ass. Distress tolerance is about being able to sit with uncomfortable feelings without immediately trying to make them go away. Of course, there's a difference between tolerating an uncomfortable feeling and overlooking unacceptable behaviour or working conditions. When someone's disappointed in you, it's tempting to over-explain, apologize or bend over backwards to make things better. But it's worth pausing to ask yourself: 'Is there actually something I need to address here? Or am I uncomfortable with someone else's discomfort?' Sometimes people need space to feel what they feel, without you rushing in to fix it (or defend yourself). The same goes for your own disappointment. Can you allow yourself to feel frustrated or let down without immediately looking for someone to blame, or something to make you feel better in the moment? Not every disagreement needs resolving immediately, and relationships can usually withstand a bit of discomfort. Sometimes you just need to let things settle. You can care about people without taking responsibility for keeping them happy. **Tip:** If you want someone to listen to you, start by listening to them very carefully. Give them your full attention, don't interrupt, and try to understand their perspective before sharing your own. If a disagreement needs addressing, find a private moment and approach the conversation with curiosity rather than assumptions. Stick to what happened rather than what you assume the other person's intentions were. Remember that you can disagree with someone and still have a good working relationship. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/2026/11/4-28-publishing.jpg) **+Read more:** [*"When the Best Career Move Is to Stop Asking the Industry to Let You In"*](https://www.hypebot.com/when-the-best-career-move-is-to-stop-asking-the-industry-to-let-you-in/) ## **3\. Recognize your influence backstage** Whether you realize it or not, as an artist, you have considerable influence over the vibe of your tour. How you treat people, particularly when things go wrong, sets an example for everyone else. Disrespect can spread through a team, but so can warmth and appreciation. When you employ people, you also have a responsibility towards their health, safety and wellbeing. Showing that you value their contribution, rather than treating them as replaceable, can make a considerable difference to morale and the way people pull together. Good leadership doesn't need grand gestures. Say hi, learn people's names and recognize the work that goes into your show, such as crew arriving at the crack of dawn for load-in and working late into the night. Treat people with respect and make it clear that you expect your crew to do the same when representing you backstage. **Tip:** Be mindful of how you deliver feedback, particularly when you're stressed out or frustrated. You can be clear about what needs improving without humiliating someone. And whatever you do, don't punch down! ## **4\. Don't forget to enjoy the ride** Touring can be so full-on that it's easy to get caught up in the next show or, once you're over the halfway hump, counting down the days until you get home. When you're seeing a lot of the same faces, hotel rooms, car parks and dressing rooms, it's easy to lose sight of where on earth you actually are. Some people who tour regularly make a point of getting out and exploring local galleries, saunas, lidos, gelaterias, taking a food tour or finding somewhere beautiful to walk. Spending time in nature, in particular, can bring moments of awe, that feeling of wonder or being part of something much bigger than yourself. Psychologists sometimes distinguish between happiness that comes from pleasure and enjoyment, and a deeper sense of wellbeing that comes from meaning, connection and personal growth (known as *eudaimonic wellbeing*). The good news is that touring can offer opportunities for both. Of course, sometimes you just need to kick back, relax and order room service, but making the most of your surroundings can help things feel a little less like Groundhog Day. Don’t wait until you've won an award or reached a milestone to feel proud of what you've done. Take a moment to recognize how far you've come, including the smaller achievements along the way and the things you've tackled together that were difficult. **Tip:** Mark the ending. When the tour finishes, make time to reflect with your team. What were the highlights for each of you? What was hard? What did you learn, and what are you proud of? You don't have to pretend it was all roses to appreciate what you've shared. Acknowledge the difficult bits, thank people for their effort and say goodbye properly. If you can afford it, take them out for a meal (it means *way* more coming from the artist than it does coming from the label!). These small gestures can help bring a sense of closure before everyone returns to civvy life. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/2026/11/Screenshot-2026-11-12-at-11.39.21---AM.png) *Applications for *Pay It Forward* are open now for small and mid-scale tours taking place in 2027\. Find out more and apply* [***here***](https://www.musicindustrytherapists.com/payitforward/apply/?ref=hypebot.com)*.* --- [***Tamsin Embleton***](https://www.embletonpsychotherapy.com/?ref=hypebot.com) *is a psychotherapist, music industry health consultant and Founder of* [***The Music Industry Therapist Collective CIC (MITC)***](https://www.musicindustrytherapists.com/?ref=hypebot.com)*. She is also the editor and lead author of Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual (Omnibus Press, 2023). For 50% off the audiobook version of *Touring and Mental Health*, enter the code *MITC50* at checkout* [***here***](https://store.musicindustrytherapists.com/?ref=hypebot.com)*.*