As part of the Behind the Scenes (BTS) Mental Health Initiative, BTS and LDI are bringing the Wellness Lounge (Booth #510) to LDI 2026, December 6-8 in Las Vegas. The Wellness Lounge offers attendees a safe space to learn about mental and physical health through daily presentations and activities. Click on the titles below to see descriptions of the presentations.
Overdose Prevention Training
Provided by There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation will be offered at 11am, 12pm and 1pm each day. The training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, certificates of completion and an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants.
Free, 30 Minute One-on-One Flash Career Coaching
Considering what’s next in your career? Whether you’re exploring opportunities beyond your current craft, looking to diversify your income during industry slowdowns, recovering from an injury that’s changed your ability to work, or simply wondering where your experience can take you next, these one-on-one coaching sessions are designed for you. Participants will receive focused support from career coach and industry leader, Mark Heiser in exploring how your skills in the entertainment industry can translate to new opportunities — whether within the field or beyond it. Sessions will be offered Sunday and Monday from 2-3pm and 4-6pm on Sunday and Monday. Time slots are very limited, so sign up by emailing [email protected] in advance of the show. You can also sign up at the Wellness Lounge Booth #510 if slots are still available.
Behind the Scenes Mental Health Tools and Resources
Attendees can stop by the lounge anytime and visit the Behind the Scenes team to learn about the Mental Health Initiative’s extensive tools and resources and receive valuable information participants can share with their companies, on the jobsite, or at their union hall.
Shine a Light on Mental Health
BTS and LDI invite all exhibitors and attendees to join our Shine a Light on Mental Health campaign to help reduce the stigma and encourage people to speak openly about mental health and substance use issues. The booth staff of exhibitors supporting the campaign will be wearing a “We’re Shining a Light on Mental Health” button and attendees can pick up their own at the Wellness Lounge. Exhibitors interested in participating should email [email protected].
All registration options, including Expo Hall Pass, provide access to the Wellness Lounge.
Come for free coffee to get your day started and learn about the Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative and all the offerings at the Wellness Lounge.
If you have time for a cup of coffee, you can do this brief yoga practice with Deanna Fitzgerald, Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut and USA Lighting Designer. No special costumes, props, yoga mats, or experience are required. This simple combination of small movements and breathing can be the same as your first cup of coffee every day. Come wearing jeans, a business suit, or a skirt/kilt. It takes only 15 minutes and can help set you up for a calmer day!
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
Do you know how to safely intervene if you see a co-worker being bullied or intimidated? Did you know there are different ways to intervene to match your comfort level? Join Jillian Beggs, Program Director of Behind the Scenes, and learn practical techniques to assist yourself and others in these all-too-common situations in the workplace as Behind the Scenes presents: the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention, developed by Right To Be.
People in creative fields are naturally resourceful, adaptable, and unafraid to explore the unknown. In the entertainment industry, quick pivots and flexibility are part of the job. But what do you do when the work itself no longer supports your physical, mental, or financial well-being?
In this session, longtime venue manager and entertainment career coach Mark Heiser explores why making a career shift — within or beyond the industry — can be a healthy, even necessary, next step. He’ll share practical strategies for navigating change, reframing your skills, and identifying new opportunities when your current path no longer aligns with your needs. We’ll also explore the BTS online tools and resources designed to support your career transition or expansion, wherever your next chapter leads.
Sign up for one of Mark’s free 30-minute Flash 1 on 1 Career Coaching sessions available on Sunday and Monday between 2:00 and 3:00 and 4:00 and 6:00. Time slots are very limited, so sign up by emailing [email protected] in advance of the show. You can also sign up at the Wellness Lounge Booth #510 if slots are still available.
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
Live events are unpredictable—and when things go sideways, it’s not just the show on the line, it’s your mental and emotional resilience. This session is a real-world guide to staying grounded, calm, and clear-headed while leading under pressure, with practical tools for managing stress, supporting your team, and leading through chaos.
Scott Kinnebrew, lighting designer and business development professional, will talk about how to navigate the emotional toll of things going wrong, strengthening crew communication, and building your own inner toolkit for staying steady when the stakes are high. Expect a no-fluff, practical session filled with lessons learned the hard way—so you don’t have to. If you’ve ever had a show go sideways (or know it’s only a matter of time), this presentation is for you. Walk away with real tools, renewed confidence, and maybe even a few laughs about the things we’ve all had to survive behind the scenes.
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
What if you don’t love exercise, but need it anyway? In this personal and practical session, Amy D Lux shares how she went from avoiding physical activity to becoming an ultra-runner and founding the Golden Ghostlight Runners, an international fundraising run club supporting Behind the Scenes Foundation.
We’ll explore the neuroscience behind movement and mood, the barriers that make physical activity inaccessible or intimidating, and the connection between stress and identity, especially during times of transition or intense production schedules, when “busy” often becomes a badge of honor. Whether you’re already training or just curious, this session is about meeting your body where it is and finding joy, resilience, and relief through movement.
Considering what’s next in your career? Whether you’re exploring opportunities beyond your current craft, looking to diversify your income during industry slowdowns, recovering from an injury that’s changed your ability to work, or simply wondering where your experience can take you next, these one-on-one coaching sessions are designed for you.
In these free, 30-minute sessions, career coach and entertainment industry veteran Mark Heiser will help you identify your transferable skills, explore career possibilities both within and beyond the entertainment industry, and develop practical strategies for taking your next step with confidence. Whether you’re ready to make a change or just beginning to consider your options, you’ll leave with personalized guidance and actionable ideas. Email [email protected] in advance of the show to secure your time slot!
Chaos is part of the job. No matter what department you work in, the next unexpected challenge is always around the corner. The ability to stay calm isn’t just good for your health, it’s a professional skill that helps you think more clearly, communicate more effectively, recover faster, and make better decisions when the stakes are high.
We will unpack how prolonged stress quietly influences focus, communication, confidence, and decision making, often without you realizing it. You’ll also learn why simply telling yourself to “calm down” doesn’t work and what actually does.
Through science-backed MicroMoments taught by Jessica Chranowski, Founder of Pure Life Therapy, you’ll learn practical techniques to become more present, steady, and focused under pressure, even in the middle of a show call or stressful conversation. You’ll discover how your own calm presence can influence the people around you, helping conversations stay productive, decisions stay clear, and teams work together more effectively when the pressure is on. You’ll leave with simple tools you can begin using immediately, both for yourself and for the people who count on you.
Grief doesn’t wait for the production to wrap, so how do we keep doing the work when we’re in the midst of a life changing event? And how do we support someone else who is? This candid discussion with Jennifer Kramer, Production Props Supervisor for Aladdin worldwide, explores grief in the entertainment workplace—from the loss of a parent to any major life loss or change—and the role that leaders, peers, and coworkers can play. While centered on the loss of a parent, the conversation applies to grief of all kinds. In this interactive conversation, we’ll focus on practical ways to offer support while respecting deadlines, call times, and the reality that sometimes the show really does have to go on.
The friendships that we forge with our co-workers in the high-stress environment of entertainment are one of the best parts of working in our industry. But all too often we can find ourselves struggling to draw the line between personal and professional – especially when friends start to take on managerial responsibilities. If I get promoted, do I have to choose between being friends and being in charge? If my friend gets promoted, can I maintain our informal relationship without disrupting overall team dynamics? How do individual agency and mutual accountability work in this new dynamic? In this thought-provoking session, organizational theorist and long-time lighting tech Ned Keitt, Outreach and Training Specialist for ETC, will present practical guidelines for building a workplace that both feels good and functions well.
Considering what’s next in your career? Whether you’re exploring opportunities beyond your current craft, looking to diversify your income during industry slowdowns, recovering from an injury that’s changed your ability to work, or simply wondering where your experience can take you next, these one-on-one coaching sessions are designed for you.
In these free, 30-minute sessions, career coach and entertainment industry veteran Mark Heiser will help you identify your transferable skills, explore career possibilities both within and beyond the entertainment industry, and develop practical strategies for taking your next step with confidence. Whether you’re ready to make a change or just beginning to consider your options, you’ll leave with personalized guidance and actionable ideas. Email [email protected] in advance of the show to secure your time slot!
The radio won’t stop. The truck is late. The cue changed. Someone didn’t show up. Everyone is looking for answers, and somehow your name keeps coming over the headset.
When the pressure spikes, adrenaline takes over. It can hijack your logic, cloud your judgment, amplify emotions, and convince you that every problem is an emergency. The challenge isn’t the chaos around you, it’s what the chaos starts doing inside you. The goal isn’t to eliminate adrenaline. Adrenaline gets shows loaded in. The goal is knowing when adrenaline has stopped helping and started making decisions for you.
In this session led by Jessica Chranowski, Founder of Pure Life Therapy, you’ll learn how to recognize when adrenaline is running the show, separate what’s truly urgent from what’s simply loud, stop a stress spiral before it gains momentum, and recover more quickly after high-pressure moments. Through science-backed MicroMoments, you’ll discover practical techniques that help you return to a steady baseline, think more clearly, and make better decisions, even when the world around you feels like it’s on fire.
In this business, everyone has experienced the ripple effects of poor communication at some point. When the pace is fast, emotions are high, and the stakes are real, communication can either keep things moving smoothly or send everything sideways. In this practical session Jillian Beggs, Program Director of Behind the Scenes, introduces the “5 C’s” of communication as a simple, memorable framework for staying clear, calm, and effective under pressure whether as a worker or manager. Learn how to reduce misunderstandings, navigate conflict, and strengthen collaboration in high-stress environments where every word counts.
Come for free coffee to get your day started and learn about the Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative and all the offerings at the Wellness Lounge.
If you have time for a cup of coffee, you can do this brief yoga practice with Deanna Fitzgerald, Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut and USA Lighting Designer. No special costumes, props, yoga mats, or experience are required. This simple combination of small movements and breathing can be the same as your first cup of coffee every day. Come wearing jeans, a business suit, or a skirt/kilt. It takes only 15 minutes and can help set you up for a calmer day!
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
Not all chronic pain is caused by injury or structural damage. Injuries heal, so why does the pain sometimes stick around? The opposite can also be true. In the Boulder Back Pain Study, completed in 2019, psychotherapist Alan Gordon discovered that many people with spinal issues, such as disc degeneration, experienced no pain at all. In this session, lead by therapist Alison Heiser, learn about Pain Reprocessing Therapy and the powerful tool of somatic tracking. In an 8-minute guided visualization, you will learn how to break the fear-pain cycle and change your relationship to pain
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
People in creative fields are naturally resourceful, adaptable, and unafraid to explore the unknown. In the entertainment industry, quick pivots and flexibility are part of the job. But what do you do when the work itself no longer supports your physical, mental, or financial well-being?
In this session, longtime venue manager and entertainment career coach Mark Heiser explores why making a career shift — within or beyond the industry — can be a healthy, even necessary, next step. He’ll share practical strategies for navigating change, reframing your skills, and identifying new opportunities when your current path no longer aligns with your needs. We’ll also explore the BTS online tools and resources designed to support your career transition or expansion, wherever your next chapter leads.
Sign up for one of Mark’s free 30-minute Flash 1 on 1 Career Coaching sessions available on Sunday and Monday between 2:00 and 3:00 and 4:00 and 6:00. Time slots are very limited, so sign up by emailing [email protected] in advance of the show. You can also sign up at the Wellness Lounge Booth #510 if slots are still available.
Alcohol is deeply woven into many aspects of our industry, but so are the challenges that can come with it. Whether you’re concerned about a colleague, supporting someone in recovery, or exploring your own relationship with alcohol, this session offers practical guidance for navigating these conversations with confidence and compassion. Join ETC Vice President David Lincecum as he shares strategies for recognizing when to help, tips on approaching difficult conversations, and fostering a more supportive workplace culture, while also offering insights for thriving in social settings while sober or sober-curious.
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
What if you don’t love exercise, but need it anyway? In this personal and practical session, Amy D Lux shares how she went from avoiding physical activity to becoming an ultra-runner and founding the Golden Ghostlight Runners, an international fundraising run club supporting Behind the Scenes Foundation.
We’ll explore the neuroscience behind movement and mood, the barriers that make physical activity inaccessible or intimidating, and the connection between stress and identity, especially during times of transition or intense production schedules, when “busy” often becomes a badge of honor. Whether you’re already training or just curious, this session is about meeting your body where it is and finding joy, resilience, and relief through movement.
Considering what’s next in your career? Whether you’re exploring opportunities beyond your current craft, looking to diversify your income during industry slowdowns, recovering from an injury that’s changed your ability to work, or simply wondering where your experience can take you next, these one-on-one coaching sessions are designed for you.
In these free, 30-minute sessions, career coach and entertainment industry veteran Mark Heiser will help you identify your transferable skills, explore career possibilities both within and beyond the entertainment industry, and develop practical strategies for taking your next step with confidence. Whether you’re ready to make a change or just beginning to consider your options, you’ll leave with personalized guidance and actionable ideas. Email [email protected] in advance of the show to secure your time slot!
Chaos is part of the job. No matter what department you work in, the next unexpected challenge is always around the corner. The ability to stay calm isn’t just good for your health, it’s a professional skill that helps you think more clearly, communicate more effectively, recover faster, and make better decisions when the stakes are high.
We will unpack how prolonged stress quietly influences focus, communication, confidence, and decision making, often without you realizing it. You’ll also learn why simply telling yourself to “calm down” doesn’t work and what actually does.
Through science-backed MicroMoments taught by Jessica Chranowski, Founder of Pure Life Therapy, you’ll learn practical techniques to become more present, steady, and focused under pressure, even in the middle of a show call or stressful conversation. You’ll discover how your own calm presence can influence the people around you, helping conversations stay productive, decisions stay clear, and teams work together more effectively when the pressure is on. You’ll leave with simple tools you can begin using immediately, both for yourself and for the people who count on you.
Grief doesn’t wait for the production to wrap, so how do we keep doing the work when we’re in the midst of a life changing event? And how do we support someone else who is? This candid discussion with Jennifer Kramer, Production Props Supervisor for Aladdin worldwide, explores grief in the entertainment workplace—from the loss of a parent to any major life loss or change—and the role that leaders, peers, and coworkers can play. While centered on the loss of a parent, the conversation applies to grief of all kinds. In this interactive conversation, we’ll focus on practical ways to offer support while respecting deadlines, call times, and the reality that sometimes the show really does have to go on.
Live events are unpredictable—and when things go sideways, it’s not just the show on the line, it’s your mental and emotional resilience. This session is a real-world guide to staying grounded, calm, and clear-headed while leading under pressure, with practical tools for managing stress, supporting your team, and leading through chaos.
Scott Kinnebrew, lighting designer and business development professional, will talk about how to navigate the emotional toll of things going wrong, strengthening crew communication, and building your own inner toolkit for staying steady when the stakes are high. Expect a no-fluff, practical session filled with lessons learned the hard way—so you don’t have to. If you’ve ever had a show go sideways (or know it’s only a matter of time), this presentation is for you. Walk away with real tools, renewed confidence, and maybe even a few laughs about the things we’ve all had to survive behind the scenes.
Considering what’s next in your career? Whether you’re exploring opportunities beyond your current craft, looking to diversify your income during industry slowdowns, recovering from an injury that’s changed your ability to work, or simply wondering where your experience can take you next, these one-on-one coaching sessions are designed for you.
In these free, 30-minute sessions, career coach and entertainment industry veteran Mark Heiser will help you identify your transferable skills, explore career possibilities both within and beyond the entertainment industry, and develop practical strategies for taking your next step with confidence. Whether you’re ready to make a change or just beginning to consider your options, you’ll leave with personalized guidance and actionable ideas. Email [email protected] in advance of the show to secure your time slot!
The radio won’t stop. The truck is late. The cue changed. Someone didn’t show up. Everyone is looking for answers, and somehow your name keeps coming over the headset.
When the pressure spikes, adrenaline takes over. It can hijack your logic, cloud your judgment, amplify emotions, and convince you that every problem is an emergency. The challenge isn’t the chaos around you, it’s what the chaos starts doing inside you. The goal isn’t to eliminate adrenaline. Adrenaline gets shows loaded in. The goal is knowing when adrenaline has stopped helping and started making decisions for you.
In this session led by Jessica Chranowski, Founder of Pure Life Therapy, you’ll learn how to recognize when adrenaline is running the show, separate what’s truly urgent from what’s simply loud, stop a stress spiral before it gains momentum, and recover more quickly after high-pressure moments. Through science-backed MicroMoments, you’ll discover practical techniques that help you return to a steady baseline, think more clearly, and make better decisions, even when the world around you feels like it’s on fire.
Do you know how to safely intervene if you see a co-worker being bullied or intimidated? Did you know there are different ways to intervene to match your comfort level? Join Jillian Beggs, Program Director of Behind the Scenes, and learn practical techniques to assist yourself and others in these all-too-common situations in the workplace as Behind the Scenes presents: the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention, developed by Right To Be.
Come for free coffee to get your day started and learn about the Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative and all the offerings at the Wellness Lounge.
If you have time for a cup of coffee, you can do this brief yoga practice with Deanna Fitzgerald, Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut and USA Lighting Designer. No special costumes, props, yoga mats, or experience are required. This simple combination of small movements and breathing can be the same as your first cup of coffee every day. Come wearing jeans, a business suit, or a skirt/kilt. It takes only 15 minutes and can help set you up for a calmer day!
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
Not all chronic pain is caused by injury or structural damage. Injuries heal, so why does the pain sometimes stick around? The opposite can also be true. In the Boulder Back Pain Study, completed in 2019, psychotherapist Alan Gordon discovered that many people with spinal issues, such as disc degeneration, experienced no pain at all. In this session, lead by therapist Alison Heiser, learn about Pain Reprocessing Therapy and the powerful tool of somatic tracking. In an 8-minute guided visualization, you will learn how to break the fear-pain cycle and change your relationship to pain
Alcohol is deeply woven into many aspects of our industry, but so are the challenges that can come with it. Whether you’re concerned about a colleague, supporting someone in recovery, or exploring your own relationship with alcohol, this session offers practical guidance for navigating these conversations with confidence and compassion. Join ETC Vice President David Lincecum as he shares strategies for recognizing when to help, tips on approaching difficult conversations, and fostering a more supportive workplace culture, while also offering insights for thriving in social settings while sober or sober-curious.
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
The friendships that we forge with our co-workers in the high-stress environment of entertainment are one of the best parts of working in our industry. But all too often we can find ourselves struggling to draw the line between personal and professional – especially when friends start to take on managerial responsibilities. If I get promoted, do I have to choose between being friends and being in charge? If my friend gets promoted, can I maintain our informal relationship without disrupting overall team dynamics? How do individual agency and mutual accountability work in this new dynamic? In this thought-provoking session, organizational theorist and long-time lighting tech Ned Keitt, Outreach and Training Specialist for ETC, will present practical guidelines for building a workplace that both feels good and functions well.
Provided by the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, the training covers basic harm reduction principles, basic harm reduction techniques for those with active use, how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan®. At the end of each free training, an Overdose Response kit with 2 Nasal Narcan® doses will be provided to all participants while supplies last.
In this business, everyone has experienced the ripple effects of poor communication at some point. When the pace is fast, emotions are high, and the stakes are real, communication can either keep things moving smoothly or send everything sideways. In this practical session Jillian Beggs, Program Director of Behind the Scenes, introduces the “5 C’s” of communication as a simple, memorable framework for staying clear, calm, and effective under pressure whether as a worker or manager. Learn how to reduce misunderstandings, navigate conflict, and strengthen collaboration in high-stress environments where every word counts.