Where were you at in your music career when you had your first child? Was there much discussion about how that life choice would affect your career within the music/entertainment industry?

I was 37 when I became a mother, after 7 years of fertility struggles. Trying to juggle being a touring musician, then working in festivals and on the industry side all while attending medical appointments, travelling with and self-administering complicated med schedules and protocols, balancing the financial weight and handling the wild ride physically and emotionally was a heavy load. All that to say we were as intentional as we could be with trying to bring our family into the world. When my daughter was 1 we decided to pick up and move from our home and life in Winnipeg to Toronto where I had a great job with Six Shooter Records but very little support. We thought, now’s the time! We can build a community around us and find our way in a new big city, we felt the pull and drive for career growth and connection. Just as we were getting settled and making connections the first wave of pandemic lockdowns began and our Toronto career and family dreams and adventures seemed to dissolve before us. We made the difficult decision to leave the Toronto dreams of career growth and family adventure behind a year later and returned home to Manitoba where we had family and community support and a more affordable way of life. I was lucky to continue to work remotely and we began to plan for a second child, something we couldn’t have done if we had stayed in Toronto. Did we discuss how it would work to have a child and work in the music industry yes, did we truly understand what that would look like before we were in it? Not a chance.

As a working parent in the music industry, what are some of the biggest challenges you are facing?

Time, energy, sleep deprivation, focus and personal wellbeing. Oh aaand childcare. As a parent of two young children and working in the music industry, there is very little extra time. Rare to have time for real rest, or to focus on your physical or mental wellbeing. Which is already against us in the music industry. One of my biggest struggles is always having the responsibilities of home and family life up against the responsibilities of work and career aspirations. As a new ED I feel great privilege and responsibility in this role. I am grateful to be a parent and how my children and growing mom skills are continually teaching me and ultimately bringing it’s own perspective to my work. There are many days I wish I could just keep working on the pressing thing(s) but need to close the laptop because I can’t miss bedtime 3 nights in a row...again. Do I feel the guilt and stress many share when I am missing a show because it’s bath night or I have no other childcare or am unavailable for a meeting because I have a sick kid, definitely and deeply. Are my family always tugging at my heart and mind during late nights working or at events or when I’m travelling abroad, 100% of the time. But both this work and family fuel me, I have accepted that I won’t strike a perfect balance between them anytime soon or maybe ever. It is important to me that my children see their mama working hard for something she believes in but that I am also a present parent for them.

What is one change (big or small) within the industry that could make a positive impact for working parents?

I think about this a lot, I don’t think there is one thing that could work for every parent in the industry with so many different intersections, needs and barriers. I dream of a 4 day work week, and increased access to affordable and flexible childcare. For the wider industry to understand that timelines may look different and that as a parent you rarely have the opportunity to fully rest or decompress. Be patient with one another. Normalize and welcome children being in music spaces. Not putting pressure on a parent to continue to hustle or work full, or even part-time through a potential for parental leave, if that is something they are considering. Compassionate health benefits and support for additional sick days if needed because kids are germ bags. More often than not the parent is continuing to work while their sick child is laying on the couch beside them.

How do you find support and community with other working parents in or out of the music industry?

Some of my favourite industry moments and deepest connections have happened when a new industry contact shares something about their kids. It’s this amazing secret club where you instantly feel connected and build trust, an immediate bond and respect. It’s disarming and fun and most everyone lights up and lets their guard down to share a photo of their kid and connect. Outside the industry building relationships with the parents of my kid’s friends and other daycare families to help each other out in a pickle for running late daycare pick-ups, a last-minute needed playdate or an emergency supper ask.

What’s one specific example of an organization/venue/company doing something great to help support working parents?

Any venue/festival/conference that plans for and welcomes children. Several years of advancing shows for artists touring with their children, sometimes requiring onsite caregiving during performances. There were many instances where strong advocacy was required for the artist to be able to safely and comfortably bring their family in order to undergo their work. On the flip side, there were also the music spaces that welcomed and were prepared for children, creating a safer environment for everyone and providing fun snacks, some toys to play with and an attentive caregiver - those spaces are golden. The kids being in a safe and happy space always led to the artist giving their best performance.

I have a distinct memory from attending a live concert and drag show with my kids put on by Synonym Art Consultation in Winnipeg. Synonym already had high trust in my books for providing an incredible atmosphere where accessibility and inclusivity are at the forefront. Show night came, I had no childcare for my then 4-year-old and 11-month-old. At the 11th hour, I said F it, ditch the jammies and we put on our glitziest party pants, stroller and diaper bag in tow and went to a party. From the moment we arrived we could easily stroll into the accessible space and park the stroller, everyone was not only open to but thrilled to see my little ones and the organizers and fans literally swept my kids up into the space to dance, freeing them and me to sink in and have a blast, supporting the artists and supporting us. More of this, please.

What could a music event (festival, conference, etc.), do or provide to make it easier for you to participate?

Provide a childcare suite where you can drop off your child but still be close by to check-in. Allow for additional complimentary delegate passes for caregivers. Funders are to accept childminders and their travel and per diems as eligible crew expenses. Quiet spaces at festivals for families and children to chill and reset away from the excitement and privacy for those who need diaper changes or nursing and pumping.

Can you shout out another music mama doing great things?

My ride-or-die Rosalyn Dennett, former bandmate and ED at Folk Music Ontario, Helen Britton at Six Shooter, and Shaneen Robinson-Dejarlais former Indigenous Music Development Coordinator at Manitoba Music, now rocking the radio airwaves in Terrace, BC.