Well Played - Gig Fit in Winter 2025
For Working Musicians Living the Dream (and the Reality)
Image Courtesy of YuriArcursPeopleImages
The Real Pandemic? We're Still in It.
Musicians lost more than gigs between March 2020 and April 2022—we lost momentum, income, community, purpose, and in many cases, health. We’re now entering our fourth winter post-lockdown, but the hangover is far from over.
Winter 2023 had the highest cancellation rate in Pushworth’s 34-year history. 2024 wasn’t much better. And now, here we are—Winter 2025—and the wellness baseline for working musicians is still dangerously low. Think:
🚫 No stamina
😷 Regular reinfections
🧠 Foggy brains and frayed nerves
💔 Gig cancellations tanking your rep and revenue
We called 2021 the comeback. We were wrong. The illness spike post-vax mandates turned into waves of long COVID, autoimmune issues, cardiac conditions, and unexplained fatigue syndromes. Call it what you want—it’s real, and it’s still impacting our industry hard.
💥 The Gig Life Got Riskier
Let's talk liability. Most venues are now run by corporate hospitality groups where risk management is king. You’re entering their workplace. That means:
✅ $10M Public Liability Insurance
✅ Tag & Test Certs every 6 months
✅ SWMS on demand
We still get, “But it’s just a covers gig, why bother?”
Let me tell you about a Sunshine Coast muso who got electrocuted last year. Lost his PA, wrecked the venue's circuitry, damaged his heart. No insurance. Ended up losing his house trying to pay for it all.
If you’re not protected, you’re exposed. One speaker falls, one punter gets injured, one trip on stage—you’re legally and financially liable. The venue’s covered. Are you?
Your show is your workplace. Risk is real. Don’t just plug in and pray. Prepare.
🧠 Gig Fit Starts in Your Mind (and Voice)
The Voice: It’s Everything
You don’t need to be Beyoncé. But you do need to be consistent.
90% of gig cancellations we manage are due to vocal blowouts.
Winter air, dry venues, late nights = vocal stress disaster.
Your Gig Fit Vocal Survival Kit (Winter 2025 Edition):
🎤 Warm up like a pro
🎤 Take singing lessons – technique saves you
🎤 No sugar before gigs (yes, that includes energy drinks)
🎤 Hydrate all day (alkaline water if you can)
🎤 Use American Ginseng, Entertainers Secret, Propolis
🎤 Steam with tea tree oil
🎤 Acupuncture for prevention
🎤 REST days—don’t speak! Whisper breaks matter.
Lose your voice and you lose your gig income, rep, and trajectory. That’s the truth.
💪 Physical Gig Fitness = Longevity
Every gig is a workout:
1 rehearsal = 4 loads
1 gig = 6+ loads
3 gigs/week + 1 rehearsal = 34 loads of gear a week
Your body is your vehicle. Treat it like a touring van.
Back injuries, hernias, joint pain—these are the silent killers of gig careers.
Your Gig Physio Plan:
🏋️♂️ Cardio & weights 2x/week
🧘♂️ Stretch and strengthen your core
🛒 Use a trolley—your spine will thank you
🧤 Wear gloves
🚰 Hydrate pre and post gig
👫 Share the load—no roadies? Your band is the crew.
This is a marathon career, not a sprint. Don’t break your body before you break through.
🥗 Eat Like a Music Athlete
Last-minute servo burgers? You’re better than that.
Gig Fuel 101:
🍽 Eat 2–3 hours before call time
🥜 Carry nuts, protein bars, fruit
❌ Skip post-gig junk food
🚰 Filtered alkaline water > tap
☕ Cut caffeine and alcohol—especially pre-show
🍗 Prioritize protein and complex carbs
You’re managing adrenaline, sleep cycles, digestion, and stamina—food is fuel. Not comfort.
🧘♀️ Tune Out to Tune In
Mental fitness = Gig Fitness.
Gig stress + day job + family + health issues = burnout.
Balance your mental load by creating space.
🧘 Meditation, breathwork, yoga—no, it's not airy fairy
🎯 Revisit your “why” – what’s your end game?
✍️ Journal your goals weekly
🔇 Take digital detox breaks
🎧 Reconnect with the music of YOU
You’re not just playing songs. You’re building a legacy. Be clear about it.
😴 Sleep Like a Rockstar (the Healthy Kind)
Forget the myth of the sleepless muso. Sleep is your number one gig tool.
🛏 Reset your circadian rhythm by Monday
🌙 Use blackout curtains, white noise, magnesium
🧠 Take Melatonin or Theanine if needed
😴 Aim for 8–10 hours post-gig weekends
🛌 Nap before early call times
You want a long career? Start by taking your sleep seriously.
🔁 Back It Up (Not Just Your Laptop)
If two gigs in a row floors you, how are you gonna tour?
Use your week to prepare to back up:
🔋 Strategic rest days
📆 Schedule everything
🧃 Rehydrate like it’s a religion
🤐 Use breaks to rest, not yell over crowd noise
Breaks = recovery. Not social hour. Protect your energy.
⏰ Master Your Music Time
You're juggling more than just a setlist.
The 2025 Musician’s Time Survival Plan:
📅 Google Calendar is your bandmate
📂 Save gig contracts, maps, run sheets in Drive
🧠 Weekly band meetings
📨 Sync all emails and alerts to your phone
🎯 Monthly gig goals
📊 Track payments, invoices, marketing
Stop winging it. Start running your music business like a business.
🎶 Final Note: You’re the Asset. Protect It.
This winter, your most important gig is the one where you protect your health, your energy, your voice, your body, and your time. That’s the difference between the hobbyist and the professional.
Let’s not just survive another cold season.
Let’s rise through it—with fire in your chords, strength in your core, and clarity in your purpose.
See you on the stage.
Image Courtesy of Leila_Milaya
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Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2024
