Gimme Shelter

“I have learned so much from the Gimme Shelter Mental Health First Aid course. I’ve had a fair bit of first and second hand experience with mental health issues in my life, and this course pulled that together, added some more, and gave everything a solid framework. I really wished I knew what I now know twenty years ago.”

- Bill Cullen, One Louder

‘For anyone working in the Creative Industries, whether working with visual, recording or touring artists and professionals, Mental Health First Aid should be required training. The course addresses deeply ingrained stigmas that are associated with the arts. The course helps remove fears around the unknown and provides much-needed community understanding for all. We have a duty of care to support our artists and each other; I have no doubt this course will save and improve peoples lives. In addition to contributing to a more culturally and economically sustainable environment for all”

- Larissa Ryan, Hutch Collective

“Taking part in the Gimme Shelter program has been one of the most eye opening and rewarding experiences for me as an Artist Manager. Working with BIPOC artists especially, I feel I have been given some great tools to better assist them on their journeys, not only as creatives but also their mental health and wellbeing. I have also learned a lot about myself through the process and feel confident a lot of the tools and strategies delivered will benefit me to as a working industry professional and ensuring I too am ok. The course is thorough, detailed, interactive and one that I encourage all professionals consider whether they're in the music business or not”

- Joel Heywood, August MGMT

“In the current unprecedented climate of the COVID-19 pandemic, a program that enables managers to build and enhance their professional skills, resilience and develop a clear framework to respond to the challenges of mental health and wellbeing has never been more critical. The devastating loss of income and future income uncertainty for artist managers and their artists may lead to further and ongoing mental health issues. Gimme Shelter will provide a proactive and preventative approach, contributing positively to the music eco-system with real and comprehensive outcomes.”

- Cath Haridy, Catherine Haridy Management

“We are living with this no matter who we are and where we're at in this life. It's not just in the artists best interest to understand mental health and how the creative mind works, but also yours as an artist manager. Together it's our responsibility to care of ourselves and each other, inside the music industry and out. Everything learned across this program now sits at the forefront of my mind, not only when making management decisions but also when interacting with friends and family. It's encouraged me to become a better manager and a better person. Gimme Shelter is a testament to a new time where we are coming together as we have never seen before. It's up to us to keep sharing stories, connecting and listening to others. Together we can form a really exciting trajectory for the new decade.”

- Lauren Poulter, UNIFIED

"I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the AAM's amazing Gimme Shelter program. A good working knowledge of mental health first aid and care is critical to the role of artist managers (and these days, most jobs in the music industry) and I'm sure that participation in the course by Australian managers will literally save lives.  The course was fun, practical and engaging - 10/10 from me."

- Claire Collins, Bossy Music

‘Being able to openly discuss and understand the dynamics underneath mental health is a skillset that any manager, in whatever field they operate, should have. Managers should be able to support and suggest resources to their artists as well as learn how to look after their own mental health, and this course gave us a strong tool set to do so. It was also a great reminder on how important it is to cut all the unnecessary noise, truly be observant of the signals around us, and the power of empathy, vulnerability and compassion towards your own self and people around you.’

- Francesca Riva, ie:music

"One of the most rewarding experiences a manager can have right now. Gimme Shelter is an amazing opportunity to upgrade and refresh the healthy strategies of your business and the artists you care for. It's vital learning and reflection that managers need in the constantly changing climate of our industry."

- Mark Neal, Blue Grey Pink

"Gimme Shelter was in my experience one of the most valuable forms of personal and professional development a manager can undertake. Artist management is the practise of managing people, and people (especially those who are creatively inclined) are complex beings. Gimme Shelter goes a long way towards helping us to gain a better understanding of those whom we seek to nurture, as well as ourselves."

- Zac Abroms, Vice Royalty 

"In the unprecedented COVID-19 climate, my participation in the Gimme Shelter program was at the time I needed it the most. I now have the tools and knowledge to benefit my own well being as an artist manager, and also those of my artists. I felt incredibly supported by the AAM community, and during peak Melbourne lockdown seeing some familiar faces each week was exactly what I needed."

- Sabrina Roberston, Maths and Magic

“The AAM Gimme Shelter program gave me amazing tools and knowledge that I can apply in my music management practice and in my personal life each day. Perfectly curated for the unprecedented times we were enduring, it covered so much! I highly recommend jumping on that program to anyone looking at self-growth and professional development”.

- Geraldine Rey, Suzette Collective

"Going into the program I wasn't too sure what to expect, but I felt the program gave me the confidence and support mechanisms to help support not only my artists but myself in various ways in regards to mental health. Through this program I gained a significant amount of knowledge that allows me to assess various situations across my day to day dealings with not just my artists but various stakeholders, and allowed me to gain the skill set to take a step back and provide support when required."

- Chris Salce, Willow Artists

"Like many in the music industry, I live with mental illness myself, so going into Gimme Shelter I presumed I already knew everything about dealing with the complex mental health issues of the folks I work with. Instead I found a crucial and powerful perspective gaining exercise on how to be there in a meaningful & practical way for my artists & friends, whilst picking up some perspective on how others work with me. I'm very grateful to the AAM and the facilitators for the experience."

- Nic Kelly, HATCH Management

‘Forever advocating for the management industry to be seen and supported, the AAM continues to provide that through the Gimme Shelter program. Equipping not only ourselves with the tools to prioritise and speak up about our mental health, but the ability to talk, facilitate and recognise when the teams, artists and loved ones around us may need our support in that space is such valuable knowledge.‘

- Sian Walden, Little Acorn Music

’I didn't think that [the pandemic] would last that long, but as time progressed and shows were cancelled, incomes dried up, I had concerns for my artists, reaching out to them on a regular basis to check on their wellbeing, I realised that I wasn't loaded with the tools to assist with their worries and concerns. I participated in the Gimme Shelter, Mental Health First Aid program. This was a two day workshop in relation to understanding and recognising mental health signs. They were group sessions with multiple participants delivered via Zoom. These sessions assisted me in dealing with the stresses that were placed upon my artists during this period.  I was able to (non-clinically) identify when their lows were commencing and design measures to assist their mental health well-being and or seek outside assistance.  This was an invaluable tool to assist with the longevity of their career and life in general.’

- Scott Nicholson, Killer B Group

"Gimme Shelter is an incredible program that focuses on the wellbeing of the workers behind the music scene. Although the 2020 program was completely online, it still felt great to be connected to other artist managers, while also learning a lot about my own mental health and capacity. I can't recommend this program enough, no matter what stage you are at in your career. Mental health is something that always requires care and education and the AAM did a fantastic job of keeping everybody engaged and comforted during a confusing and stressful period."

- Dean Valentino, Fright Night Music