How was today?
Get it off your chest.
Visual artists, writers, poets, musicians, performers and the people behind the scenes. Put down what you're carrying.
Which best describes you?
This changes a few questions and which support lines come first. You can change it any time.
Everything you enter stays on this phone. Nothing is sent to your agent, label, publisher or anyone else. Unladen Studio is a prototype. It is not a medical or emergency service and is not connected to any arts organisation, label, publisher or government agency. · Give feedback
Take a moment.
Step away from the work for a few minutes. Breathe. You are allowed to stop.
Breathe with this
What you might be feeling
- Shaky, sick, or a racing heart
- Numb, or oddly calm
- Tearful, angry, or both
- Going over what you could have done differently
These are normal reactions. They usually settle over hours or days.
If someone harassed or threatened you
It isn't your fault, and it isn't the price of a creative career. Write down what happened. 1800RESPECT is there 24/7, and the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline (1800 959 500) is free, 24/7, for people working in the arts.
Ground yourself
Look around. Name them, out loud or in your head.
Call someone now
Add a fellow artist, your mentor or a counsellor in so they're here when you need them.
Not sure who to tell?
If you don't feel safe telling your agent, manager, publisher or label, there are other people you can go to. Or write down what happened, just for you, while it's fresh.
What helps after
Handover to yourself
A few minutes at the end of the day. Notice what you're carrying, then leave what you can in the studio.
Please talk to someone now
You said you've had thoughts of harming yourself or not wanting to be here. Please call one of these now. If you're in immediate danger, call 000.
Light load
This phone isn't letting the page save. Your result shows here but won't be kept.
About what happened
Write down what happened while it's fresh. You can get legal advice from the Arts Law Centre (1800 221 457) and support from MEAA, Support Act or 1800RESPECT.
Your safety
You said you didn't feel fully safe. That matters. Talk to someone you trust, and think about who you work with and where.
Getting home safely
You said you've got very little energy left. Rest. The work will still be there tomorrow.
What might help
People you can call
This isn't a medical assessment. It's a way to notice how you're going over time.
How it's been going
Last 14 days
Handovers
This phone isn't letting the page save, so handovers won't be kept.
Privacy & your data
Add a PIN, download what you've entered, or delete everything from this phone.
Making things takes something out of you
What to watch for, and what helps. Tap a heading to open it.
Rejection and knock-backs
Grants, publishers, galleries, labels, auditions. Rejection is constant in creative work, and it still hurts.
- A no is about fit, timing and money far more often than it's about you.
- Let yourself feel it, then talk to another artist. They have all been there.
- Keep a record of what you have made and done, not just what was accepted.
Money worries
- Irregular, low income is one of the biggest stresses in creative work.
- The National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) gives free financial counselling.
- Support Act helps people working in music and the arts, including with its free wellbeing helpline.
Harsh criticism and online abuse
- Criticism of your work isn't a judgement of you, even when it's written that way.
- Don't read the comments on a hard day. Ask someone else to check them.
- The eSafety Commissioner takes reports of serious online abuse.
Harassment and exploitation
Unpaid "exposure", unfair contracts, and sexual harassment by people with power over your career are far too common.
- Write down what happened, with dates, while it's fresh.
- The Arts Law Centre (1800 221 457) gives legal advice to artists, writers and musicians.
- MEAA (1300 656 513) is the union for media, entertainment and the arts.
- 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is there 24/7.
When a show or launch goes badly
- One bad night or an empty room does not define your work.
- Performance nerves and the comedown afterwards are real. Plan time to land.
- Talk to someone who's been on stage. They have had nights like it.
Touring, late nights and travel
- Protect sleep wherever you can.
- Notice if alcohol or drugs are becoming the way you come down. ADIS (1800 250 015) is free and confidential, 24/7.
- Loneliness on the road is common. Keep in touch with people at home.
Creative block and burnout
- Blocks happen to everyone. Rest is part of making work.
- Try making something small with no pressure for it to be good.
- If the block comes with low mood that lasts, talk to your GP.
Working alone
- Creative work can be very isolating.
- Find your people: a studio, a writing group, a band, an online community.
- Schedule time with other people, not just deadlines.
Signs you're carrying too much
- Dreading the work you used to love
- Feeling numb, or flat after shows
- Needing a drink or something else to come down
- Sleep all over the place
- Pulling back from people
Creative work is emotionally demanding and often insecure. Feeling it is a normal response, not a weakness.
When to get more help
If your load has been heavy for two weeks or more, or it's affecting sleep or home life, talk to your GP. A GP can set up a Mental Health Treatment Plan for Medicare-subsidised sessions with a psychologist. The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline (1800 959 500) is free and 24/7 for anyone working in music and the arts.
People to call
Save the ones that apply to you. They stay on this phone and show up on the Help now screen.
Support lines
Support that gets creative work
Sometimes the person you'd normally tell is part of the problem, or it just doesn't feel safe. Here are other ways to get support. You choose what to do, and when.
From your organisation
An arts organisation, festival or label can add its own support numbers here.
Someone outside your reporting line
- Support Act Wellbeing Helpline. Free counselling for anyone working in music and the arts, 1800 959 500, 24/7.
- Arts Law Centre of Australia. Legal advice on contracts, copyright and disputes, 1800 221 457.
- MEAA. The union for media, entertainment and the arts, 1300 656 513.
- A fellow artist or mentor. Someone who has been there.
- Your GP. Outside work altogether, and can refer you on.
Text or chat instead of calling
For when talking out loud isn't possible, or feels like too much.
For particular situations
Contracts, copyright and unpaid work: get advice before you sign or give up rights.
Spiritual and religious support
Some people find strength in prayer, ritual or their faith or cultural community after a hard day. Others find it in nature, music, exercise or quiet. Whatever gives you meaning counts.
If your workplace has a chaplain or wellbeing officer, they support people of any faith or none. Their role is to listen, not to persuade.
Words to start with
The first sentence is often the hardest. You could say:
"I'm not ready to make a complaint. I just need to talk this through."
"Can this stay between us? Is there anything you'd have to pass on?"
"I've had another knock-back and I'm struggling."
"Someone in the industry made me feel unsafe."
What happens if I tell someone?
- Counsellors, peer supporters and helplines keep what you say private. The main exception is if someone is at serious risk of harm. If you're unsure, ask at the start.
- A union or legal service can give you confidential advice before you decide anything.
- Your agent, manager or publisher works for you. You can choose what to share.
- Your private record in this app stays on your phone unless you choose to share it.
Not ready to tell anyone?
That's OK. You can write down what happened, just for yourself, and decide later.
Numbers and services are for New South Wales and Australia-wide. Check with your organisation for its own services.
Write down what happened
It stays on this phone. It isn't a report, and nothing is sent anywhere. If you later decide to raise something, notes written at the time are easier to rely on than memory.
My entries
Entries can't be edited, so each one shows when it was written. To add something, write a new entry.
No entries yet.
If you decide to share it, you can download it or send it to yourself.
Your phone, your data
PIN lock
Ask for a PIN when the app opens, and after it has been in the background for a minute.
PIN is on.
The PIN stops someone else opening the app on your phone. It doesn't encrypt what's stored, so keep your phone locked too. If you forget it, you can delete everything and start again.
Hide the screen
Tap the eye button at the top of any screen to cover the app straight away, for example in the studio or on the way home. Tap to come back, or enter your PIN if you've set one.
Download my data
Download everything you've entered (handovers, private record and contacts) as a text file. You could keep a copy, or show it to your GP or counsellor.
Delete everything
Deletes your handovers, private record, role, contacts and PIN from this phone.
Delete everything from this phone? This can't be undone.
About Unladen Studio
Unladen™ Studio is a prototype made by Co-Synthesist Pty Ltd, Newcastle NSW. Unladen™ is a trade mark of Co-Synthesist Pty Ltd. It isn't a medical or emergency service, and it isn't connected to any arts organisation, label, publisher or government agency. The questions haven't been clinically validated yet.
What's stored: your role, handovers, private record, saved contacts and settings, only in this phone's browser. Nothing is sent to anyone. There are no accounts, analytics or trackers.
Feedback: the feedback form is the only part of Unladen Studio that sends anything, and only when you press Send. It doesn't include anything else from the app.
Keep in mind: if you clear your browser data or remove the app, what you've entered goes too. Download a copy first if you want to keep it.
Version 0.1 prototype · September 2026