As an artist who has written her own account of a mental health recovery journey after a one-time episode of bipolar, it is not unusual to find a parallel between the joy of mental health reprieve that music provides listeners to the mental health stress for an artist in the process of creating art and music, the two unfortunately coexist almost as different sides of the same coin.

Watching the documentary I'm Tim directed by Henrik Burman out on Netflix about Avicii’s life is heart-breaking and as one who knows the stress of touring, although on smaller scale it is still very relatable to see how difficult he found the gruelling tour schedule and the fishbowl life style of a famous musician who rarely escaped cameras even from his hospital bed. This fast paced and pressured lifestyle for such a gentle musician and sensitive soul tragically lead to him taking his own life.

It made me ponder the risks associated with my own craft in burlesque and my interest in the much needed toolkit recently developed by author Tamsin Embleton Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual to address the need in the entertainment industry to help all facets of the business. The book covers topics including mental health, peak performance and performance anxiety, addiction, group dynamics, relationship problems, dealing with the media, physical health, diversity and inclusion, crisis management and post-tour recovery and has been given the Rough Trade Book of the year accolade and was adopted by Live Nation with copies bought and given to staff with many 5 star Amazon reviews, it’s truly given the industry a benchmark.

“I’m really glad you’re talking about the pressures and stressors of touring.” said Embleton, when I contacted her about the book and I felt like I had to.

Cancelled and stranded. Cervena Fox relied on a Go Fund Me to get her home to Las Vegas

Afterall, a study published in The Journal of Psychiatric Research shows that nearly half of touring professionals are clinically depressed. Many also suffer from anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Touring can feel like a fairground ride, swinging from the highs of applause and acclaim to the lows of loneliness and instability. (Willis, 2024)

As an Australian who has relocated to London for bigger opportunities and to cash on my Aussie accent because let's fast it, a charming G'day mate, melts hearts, I could not help but empathise with the recent plight of Las Vegas star Cervena Fox who shared the nightmare of a show cancellation leaving her stranded in Sydney.

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I remember all too well how devastating it was when Motion in Bristol cancelled my 2013 tour Burlesque or Bust dedicated to Sir Richard Branson and how vulnerable it felt to call home and notify my flatmate I couldn't afford the rent when I returned as well as the dread of moving back home with my parents.

Sapphira meets Sir Richard Branson after a failed tour cancelled by Motion Bristol

Thankfully for Cervena Fox, the Australian performance community sprang to action. A public Go Fund Me was launched securing donations and it is 94% of its target at the time of writing but one has to consider the plight this left a poor artist in unpaid for the performances and workshops she had conducted and with contractual issues emerging and it made me ponder how things can improve.

Since I founded World Burlesque Day in 2020 I’ve witnessed with awe the striking accelerated growth of the burlesque scene. The data shows the artform is at at all time peak with new festivals appearing and emerging scenes evolving. With World Burlesque Day, we've pushed the genre into the digital space setting an online world record for the World's Largest Online Burlesque Class and have tracked the hashtag which now reaches a staggering 151 countries.

As former co-founder of the Australian Burlesque Festival 2010/2011 what has particularly stood out to me is the growth on southern hemisphere home soil. Google Trends shows Australia has searched on the word ‘burlesque’ the most of any country since 2004 and it boasts the world’s largest touring burlesque festival, The Burlesque Cruise and the country's largest burlesque school. This incident makes me question, are there still some communication modules and business skill gaps not being taught to stabilise the sector?

Bass Fam Creative was recently implicated in a press feature for not paying artists. Le Supper Club failed to align their burlesque entertainment menu for the visual dietary restrictions of a multi-faith staff party hosted by Monash University resulting in counselling being offered for staff. Now Evana De Lune Pty Ltd fronted by performer Evana De Lune faces questions over its part in a furore leaving the Las Vegas headliner, Cervena Fox, stranded attracting significant online comment for the cancellation of their show Burlesque with Cervena Fox at EDL Studios.

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These frequent issues are somewhat baffling given Melbourne has one of the best hospitality education facilities in the world with the award-winning and internationally acclaimed William Angliss Institute and the RMIT University’s Bachelor of Tourism Hospitality Management so the knowledge to improve and ensure a situation like this is not repeated is well within reach.

I, for one, am glad I was able to reach out to Cervena Fox who has confirmed she has arrived safely back home with a LA layover that thankfully was not delayed considering the crisis LA is in at the moment. Cervena Fox with 679,000 Instagram followers is clearly adored and is it set to grace the stage again headlining the Teaser Burlesque Festival in New Orleans and the 20,000 attended Viva Las Vegas, in April, too.

When I told her knowing she was safe brought a tear to my eye she commented: “ Oh man yeah, this life is a tough one.” I hope she knows I think she’s made of iron-clad resilience and reinforced showgirl sparkle.

Thank you to all who donated to get her home safely.

The difficulties of touring burlesque, an Australian perspective