Ruby Horton is a venue manager at The 100 Club, Britain’s oldest independent live music venue. In addition, Ruby also manages communications at Independent Venue Week. Here is what she had to say about completing our Two Day Adult Mental Health First Aid course. What were your motivations for becoming a Mental Health First Aider? […]
Ruby Horton is a venue manager at The 100 Club, Britain’s oldest independent live music venue. In addition, Ruby also manages communications at Independent Venue Week. Here is what she had to say about completing our Two Day Adult Mental Health First Aid course.
What were your motivations for becoming a Mental Health First Aider?
There is a lot of news about people with mental health issues in music specifically. It’s always a nice opportunity to learn and this is something that’s quite interesting.
What did you learn from the course?
I think the thing that stuck with me the most is adapting the way you have conversations with people – how you are and how you react.
How would you implement your knowledge?
I’m now more aware. Music is such a stressful industry to work in and there are so many pressures. Just keeping an eye on everyone – but that’s kind of what’s so great about music industry. It’s all very supportive anyway. It’s nice to just kind of make sure everyone is doing well because you can get sucked into drugs and alcohol, smoking, late nights.
Different people will deal with it in different way when it crosses the line of being an ongoing issue. I think just having an open conversation and being given the tools to have that kind of a conversation is just the best way to do it.
Would you recommend the course?
I definitely would. I think people like tour managers would really benefit from it, as tour life is stressful. We have like a month of hardcore work. I just think having someone confident enough to have an open conversation is a positive thing.