The is no question that music and live shows help to elevate our mood, but by how much? Why do we feel so wonderful and energetic after seeing that movie or live performance we’ve been waiting to see? Is it the energy of the crowd or is it because we’ve gotten out of the house or office to partake in something that was well deserved? In this evenings article we hone our focus on TaDa! Events in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to tell the tale of how attending and performing local shows and events helps to increase overall ‘health’ as their main charitable focus this year is The Pottle Centre – a mental health support organization who work diligently to break down the barrier of stigma, and to support those suffering from mood disorders and mental health issues. 

For Our Divas do Christmas soloist Darrin Martin, the theme of supporting such important mental health initiatives strikes home in the most heartfelt of ways.

““I was one of the featured vocalists with this years show and couldn’t be happier I was asked to do it again! After about a 3 to 4 year break from it, it was nice to be back. For Divas to support groups such as the Pottle Centre it really means the world to me! For Terri to choose such a wonderful cause and it being a mental illness centre, it hit home for me this year! She told me she was doing a section about mental illness and I knew I had to be a part of it; being a performer and artist who deals with mental illness, too””, says Martin.

Historically, many seem to focus the association of health on a very thin baseline of eating healthy and exercising on occasion, though it’s simply not the case when tackling the broad aspect of what health or ‘good health’ actually is. In general, ‘good health’ is defined as a balance of three areas: ‘mental health,’ ‘physical health’ and ‘social health.’ When we keep those three areas in check, we generally have well functioning health, but there’s a list of things to follow on that to do list. Some of those things might come in the form of working out for 30 minutes a day, eating healthy, going for that walk down the lane to get out of the house, saying hello to a friend or family member for a coffee meet-up, or even understanding when to take in some of that ‘you time’ when you’re overwhelmed with tasks and deadlines.

Music has helped to sooth the soul for many for countless years. There’s that famous saying when something goes right, ‘it’s like music to my ears!’ These sayings stick for a reason. Music is beautiful, it’s bold and it moves mountains while telling a story that strikes a chord in every single one of us as it brings us to a place all our own. In the arts industry it’s important to bring that sensation to an audience. According to a new study by behavioural science professor Patrick Fagan and the wireless company O2, music doesn’t only make you feel good, but by attending a festival or event every two weeks can actually help you to live longer! With the collected data from Fagans participants, he’s reached the conclusion that  “taking in twenty minutes of live music every two weeks improves levels of self-perceived wellness by more than 20%.”

If a 20% increase in self-perceived wellness comes as a surprise, the next bit is even more enlightening! More than 33% of concert goers mentioned they felt happier attending live music with a crowd of people than listening to music or watching a show alone. From there concert goers also showed a 25% increase in feelings of self-worth coupled with a 25% increase in feeling more close to others and a 75% increase of overall positive mental stimulation!

““Our research showcases the profound impact gigs have on feelings of health, happiness and wellbeing—with fortnightly or regular attendance being the key,” Fagan said. “Combining all of our findings with O2’s research, we arrive at a prescription of a gig a fortnight which could pave the way for almost a decade more years of life,”” says Fagan.

Health is to be maintained and kept in a balance. At some point in our lives someone has to told us ‘too much of a good thing can sometimes be a bad thing,’ and they’re right! Ahh yes… variety, the spice of life! As cliche as it may be, it’s true and there’s absolutely no mistaking it! If the average human being doesn’t keep the three criteria noted above (mental health, physical health and social health) in balance, one aspect sets priority over another and the other two pieces of that criteria start to dwindle lessening overall health.

Now that the cold weather has settled in and those bright, sunshiny, warm summer days have long gone, it’s pertinent to get out of the house and the office to socialize and take in some entertainment to brighten the spirit as we head into the long-haul of another winter here in Atlantic Canada. For performers like Darrin, it’s all about feeling good when doing things for the right reasons and cause. When taking things in stride and doing the best he can from the heart, it helps him to feel good by giving back to his community and loved ones.

““Being an artist of various mediums allows me a chance to be creative and channel my emotions into something creative! For me, visual arts, is much easier for me to handle these days over being a performer, as I deal with anxiety, but I am thankful I can still do some performing. We need our community to embrace the arts, because without them we would be lacking something so integral to who we are! No matter the season or occasion we need to support our singers, dancers, actors and visual artists, as these are their jobs! Why not support local; there is so much talent in our beautiful province,”” he continues.

Martin is an amazing multi-media artist as he does some outstanding painting work outside of his performing. Since Our Divas do Christmas arrived, he’s been inspired to make his own ‘Divas Collection.’ For Martin, he “loved being a part of an incredible show with over the top talent and just plain and simple nice people! It was a way for me to make my experience backstage more bearable between my songs, and help calm me and make me feel more relaxed,” said Martin. His six workings seen below had been created between his time in his dressing room between sets!

If you would like to see Darrin’s complete works, click on the photo below to check out the latest from Darrin’s NorthSide Studios facebook page as he uploads content quite often. There’s surly something there for everyone wanting to have a piece of ‘home.’ His paintings also make quite the holiday gift for those on or off the island!

As performing on the big stage may seem nerve wrecking for some, for performers like Martin it can help ones overall mental health, even when it comes to anxiety. This isn’t Martin’s first show with Tada! Events as they’ve asked him to come back after a few years absence where he’s focused on other endeavours as a multi-levelled artist.

““Being a part of the Divas team is really a dream gig as it is truly the most talented and kind people you could work with. I always laugh that it is called “Our Divas Do Christmas,” yet our cast is done of the least “Diva” like people you could meet! They are all so kind! Contributing my little part with this incredible group is a blessing!”” he continues.

When speaking about health, he points out that it’s important to surround yourself with people in your community to feel that sense of unity, especially during the Christmas season – a very important time of year for him. Christmas is the season of giving and there’s no better way to give back than seeing the reaction of a filled audience with warm smiles on their faces and laughter surrounding the audience.

““The reaction of the audience is so uplifting and just shows that they are with us, to support us! For me the spirit of Christmas is love! Love one another; no exceptions, just as Jesus, who came a baby in a manger, taught so well during His time on earth with us! No matter the person or circumstance, we need to simply…love,”” says Martin.

As hard as it for Darrin to perform on big stages and shows like Divas, he is thankful to people like Terri and Bill who see the performer in him while trusted him to do what he does with exceptional, radiant talent! In closure, he says, “Singing is a joy and I will always perform a bit I am sure bit right now as I literally finished my last concert of the season this afternoon, I am so excited to get right back to my easel and make some more art! That brings me so much peace these days; and everyone needs that in their lives!”