What if we talked about music the way we talk about mental illness?

One in five West Australians has a musical talent

Know the warning signs:

Fatigue from late night gigs
Extreme key changes, singing high and then low
Risky behaviour, like experimenting with different genres or dancing without shoes
Changes in appearance, such as dying hair, wearing hats, being obsessed with vintage or designer clothing
Hearing tunes and riffs that are not audible to anyone else
Irrational outbursts, including breaking strings while playing air guitar or busking in the street
Co-dependent relationships with fans, roadies, sound engineers, band managers and publicists
Distorted sense of reality, i.e. being a legend in your own mind.

If you recognise any of these signs, tell us now at the forum

Three out of four musicians have experienced stigma

What is stigma?

When a musician is signed to a major recording label they may be stereotyped as part of a certain genre or be disregarded as having “sold out”. Prejudice may lead to booing at gigs, rejection by alternative groups or misrepresentation in the media. This may prevent musicians from seeking necessary professional help, such as a voice coach or booking into a recording studio.

How can we challenge stigma?

Simple ways to help include:

learn and share the facts about music
get to know people with personal experiences of music
don't label or judge people with musical talent, treat them with respect as you would anyone else
speak up in protest when fan-sites display false beliefs or negative attitudes
don’t discriminate against people who have musical tastes which are different to you
talk openly of your own experience of music. If musical talent remains hidden, people will continue to believe it is embarrassing and needs to be concealed.

Have you or your friends experienced stigma? Tell us now at the forum

Myths and facts about people with a musical talent

Myth: Music only affects a few people.
Fact: Musical talent is common. It affects people of all ages, cultures, education backgrounds and income levels.

Myth: People with a musical talent should just get over it.
Fact: A musical talent may be caused by genetics, family, geographic, social and cultural influences. Some musicians may just be going through a phase, but many have long-term dreams to be independent artists. Listening to their music can help them to fulfil their potential.

Myth: People with a musical talent will never get better.
Fact: With the right kind of help, most musicians do sound and perform better. Many go on to lead or support productive and satisfying bands. With adequate marketing, they can connect with friends on facebook and myspace.

Myth: People with a musical talent destroy hotel rooms.
Fact: People with a musical talent are no more destructive than the rest of the population. Many musicians are actually vulnerable to having things thrown at them while onstage, including underpants, flowers and beer cans.

Myth: People with a musical talent smell and look funny.
Fact: Some musicians are scruffy or sweaty during gigs, but with soap, water and the right stylist they can lead clean, respectable lives. Attitudes are slowly changing and several entertainers now have their own perfume and clothing ranges.

Myth: People with a musical talent should stay in the music industry, away from others.
Fact: With appropriate treatment and support, musicians can perform successfully in the community. The majority of musicians live in suburbia, have day jobs and pay taxes. Some musicians can even drive fast cars, while others travel on “special” buses when touring.

Know other myths that should be busted? Tell us now at the forum

Music First Aid: What to do if you see a famous rockstar

Introduce yourself and explain why you are a fan.
Remain courteous and calm, but be honest about your all-time favourite songs.
Listen to the rockstar talk about themselves without blushing or sighing.
Don’t be pushy about autographs, particularly if you don’t have any of their merchandise on you.
Clarify and address what the rockstar sees as their breakthrough moment (not what you see as their major shortcoming).
Do not attempt to manhandle the rockstar, unless they’ve had one too many and are likely to take a tumble.
Encourage/assist the rockstar to receive more publicity by posting your photo with them on myspace.
Finally, if the incident was overwhelming for you, or you feel like you’re going to faint, discuss these issues with a friend or an official fan club.

Got more tips on helping someone in a challenging situation? Tell us now at the forum

Musicians Without Borders

Music can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Every few seconds, there are people throughout the world listening to The Killers, The Cold War Kids, My Chemical Romance, The Violent Femmes, Massive Attack and countless heavy metal bands. Tragically, there are even mass victims of Rage and other televised propaganda. Musicians Without Borders believes a better world is possible.

We are looking for volunteers to turn off their TV, playstation, laptop or wii and take the risky, but rewarding, step of supporting the live music scene.

By supporting live music, you can enable a disadvantaged musician to:

eat for a week
repay large debts to their parents, for music lessons and instruments
pay the rent in their share household
buy petrol to get to their next gig
record an album
have a better quality of life and fulfil their potential.

It will also bring you personal benefits, such as:

adventure, excitement and a warmer inner glow
a great tan if you go to an outdoor concert
greater awareness of diverse cultures and lingos
“interesting” new friends
anecdotes of foreign venues, which will impress your colleagues
someone to send fan mail to
regular spam on bands’ upcoming releases, gigs and tours.

Are you an instrument for social change? Tell us at the forum