“I thought my time in the industry was limited by my body. Now that I have her help, I think I might be able to do this forever. Wren is going to be a mandatory stop for me any time I even come close to Philadelphia, and I’ll be telling all my friends to do the same. If you can afford to take her with you, DO IT.”
why do i need a body tech?
You’ve got custom-molded IEMs and expensive lighting rigs. You protect your pedal board with your life. And yet your body — the complex tool which stores and transports and sets up and breaks down and performs with this equipment, and which is the one tool that cannot be replaced — is neglected.
I have services tailored to the specific needs of vocalists and instrumentalists, management and crew. I have tried-and-true, evidence-based techniques for all sorts of road maladies, from tendinitis to sinus congestion to carpal tunnel syndrome to constipation.
When you’re running a marathon tour powered solely by Buc-ee’s and Bojangles, illness and injury are commonplace - and can completely derail a tour, costing everyone involved a lot of cash.
An expert bodyworker can help to:
enhance performance on and off the stage
improve efficiency of load-ins/outs
lower the chance of mistakes and mishaps
improve sleep quality, focus and morale
prevent injury and illness
reduce recovery time if they do happen
Here’s how each member of the team will benefit:
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improve vocal resonance with facial cupping (leaves no marks, and also increases collagen production in the skin)
increase lung capacity and improve diaphragmatic breathing with abdominal cupping (leaves no marks!) and myofascial release
alleviate jaw and throat tension with facial cupping, deep tissue, and trigger point therapy techniques
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improve and even eliminate repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome with deep tissue, cupping, myofascial release, and gua sha
enhance nightly performances with increased mind-muscle connection and higher quality sleep
eliminate neck, low back, and foot pain from slangin’ that geetar around all dang night with Thai and deep tissue
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reduce and/or eliminate muscular pain and strain from moving those heavy cases with deep tissue, Thai, and cupping
minimize mistakes and accidents by increasing memory and attention, lowering stress and improving sleep quality
make load-ins/outs more efficient by rehabilitating chronic pain patterns and preventing illness and injury
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decrease mistakes and improve overall efficiency by reducing stress, improving memory + focus with swedish, deep tissue and reiki
diminish headaches, eye strain and wrist/hand pain from all that emailing with myofascial release, trigger point therapy, cupping and gua sha
improve morale and reduce crew turnover from illness and injury by ensuring better sleep quality, reduced likelihood of illness and injury, and minimized recovery times
alleviate neck and back pain from lifting boxes and carrying the weight of the whole tour on your shoulders
“Wren took care of us in the middle of a hectic & grueling tour. She listened to each individual’s needs, asking about their role in the band or crew, & paid special attention to the muscles that would be most affected. It was the exhale we all needed! Couldn’t recommend her more.”
— Sammy Maine, Tour Manager (Bartees Strange)
why wren?
For years, I watched friends and loved ones return from tour worse for the wear, barely recovering in time to leave again. The world of live performance and the various demands and stresses it puts on its hardworking people is one that makes sense to me.
Versatile, consistent, individualized body work done at a moment’s notice by a professional who gets it increases the effectiveness of the treatment, and is one of the best investments you can make in your road-weary body and mind.
YOU are my specialty. I am passionate about the work I do and have dedicated years to developing the skills it takes to do it properly. Of the hundreds of clients I have invited into my private practice, nearly 100% of them have returned for the quality work, personal touch, and realized investment in the self.
Qualifications
Fully licensed massage therapist (LMT) with 5+ years active practice
Philadelphia magazine’s Best of Philly® 2024 – Best Massage Therapist
Founder and manager of Wren McLean Massage + Bodywork, a thriving Philly-based private practice boasting more than 200 5-star reviews and a near perfect client retention rate
Proudly certified in Swedish, Thai, deep tissue, and sports massage, as well as myofascial release, several variations of cupping, gua sha, trigger point therapy, hot stone and prenatal massage, plus Usui Reiki.
A decade in the wellness industry as a consultant and yoga teacher
Notable clientele includes Grammy winners and nominees, NFL players, and Fortune 500 CEOs
Why would I bring a bodyworker on tour, instead of just hiring someone when we arrive in [Minneapolis, Memphis, Madrid]?
It’s 1pm, and you just pulled into the venue after a long drive. Doors are at 7. You ‘slept wrong’ and you can’t turn your head to the left - you need help. With your attention already stretched thin, you have much better ways to spend your time than Googling “massage near me”. Qualified bodyworkers are hard to find and typically unavailable on demand - but I offer a flexible, astonishingly well-rounded service designed for your exact profession and its often frantic nature.
Tours can easily be waylaid by injury and illness, and good bodywork is proven to both reduce the likelihood of those events, and drastically improve recovery time when they do occur. With the improvements to sleep quality and morale, your load-ins/outs will be more efficient and your precious few days off more restful. I once worked with a tour manager who had just purchased a venue in their hometown. I asked what inspired the move, and they said, “Well, I can’t tour forever, but I don’t want to do anything else.” Let’s keep you on the road for as long as you want to be <3