Australian musicians may have spearheaded an international invasion of festivals, lineups, and charts lately, but closer to home the live music scene could arguably be in better shape.
While Sydney’s live music sector is suffering under the yoke of strict new lockout laws, Melbourne appears to have at last turned a positive corner with the powers that be beginning to hear the cry for support coming from the city’s rich music culture. But there’s more work to be done.
Earlier this year, Music Victoria issued a position paper with 19 key recommendations for the Victoria State Government to help improve and support the state’s music scene, timed in the lead-up to this November’s state election. Combined, the ream of changes and initiatives are proposed to ensure “the next Gotye, Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett or Hiatus Kaiyote don’t fall through the cracks,” in the words of Music Victoria’s CEO, Patrick Donovan.
Among calls for government funding, grants, legislative reforms, as well as promotion and celebration of Melbourne’s music scene, the 19-point Position and Priorities action plan contains a comprehensive vision of the next four years for the live music sector, which is valued at $1.04 billion (bigger than AFL) and currently hosts 62,000 gigs across 470 venues to an audience of round 14.4 million annually.
While Music Victoria’s exhaustive paper contains a range of initiatives for the industry’s benefit with a call to arms to the government, we caught up with Patrick Donovan to find out what the passionate Music Victoria CEO thinks the Australian music fan can do to better support live music.
In short, Mr Donovan’s responses amount to seven simple things that you – the live music lover – can do to ensure that your local live music venue can keep on rocking and that Australia’s music talent gets the support and recognition they so duly deserve.
1) Go And See Local Bands
“Go out and see local bands at local venues and don’t baulk at the tiny cover charge – it’s often cheaper than a pint,” says Donovan.
It seems blindingly obvious… but if you want to support live music? Go and see some! It’s all very well to say you support local bands by buying their EP or streaming their music online, but it’s a whole different experience to actually march yourself (and a hopefully a mate too) to a local venue and actually get in front of a performing musician.
2) Try Out A New Venue
So what if you’re already the kind of barfly regular who’s on a first name basis with the sound mixer at your local pub? Well, as they say, ‘a change is as good as a holiday’, and the same applies to live music.
Not only could spreading your patronage to a slightly further flung bar help in smaller ways, you might even discover something new in the process, be it a comfier barstool, a better soundtrack, or ‘hey, an unoccupied pool table!’ Plus, if you really don’t know where to venture beyond your own suburb to see some live music, Music Victoria’s already got you covered.
“Download the Melbourne Music City app and try out a venue you haven’t been to before,” says Donovan. Developed and sponsored by Tourism Victoria and City of Melbourne, the free, interactive smartphone application will guide you to any number of Melbourne’s 470 live music venues. Plus info on music events, festivals, and record stores. Speaking of which…
3) Hit The Merch Desk
The merchandise desk seems to be a bit of a taboo amongst some music fans – something to turn your nose up at and skip over on your way to to your next pint. But it needn’t be. If you’re the kind of person who curiously gives a once-over of what’s on offer, take the plunge and actually approach the nice looking bloke or lady with the cash box. To put it plainly: “buy CDs, vinyl and merch from local bands,” Donovan says “you’ll look good in that new t-shirt and the band will be able to buy a pizza or cab home.”
4) Don’t Skip The Support
Sure, you might not have heard of the opening act but that’s kind of the point. Take a risk and you could just reap the rewards. “Get there early for the support bands even if you haven’t heard of them – they might be your new favourite band,” suggests Donovan. After all, the Tame Impalas and Nick Caves of the music world weren’t born headliners overnight.
5) Power In Numbers
Sick of meeting mates at a shitty ‘pre-drinks’ bar with an even shittier electronic iPod playlist yammering over the dull throng of sports TV? Set the tone. “Encourage your friends to meet at a band venue instead of any old bar on a night out,” says Donovan. Not only are you more likely to stick around if there’s some entertainment beyond your friends’ witty anecdotes (that you’ve read already on Facebook, let’s be honest) but you might even turn them onto a new favourite venue or band – and who doesn’t like taking credit for that?
6) Make Your Vote Count
There’s more to live music than what happens between the four walls of a music venue, and this is usually the point that might scare the average punter who thinks there’s a massive leap between being ‘just’ an audience member and hitting the streets with biting placards and party slogans. Not quite true, it just takes a little light reading.
“Study each political party’s contemporary music policies before you decide who to vote for at the next election,” says Donovan. “If they don’t have one, ask them why not.” Live music policy isn’t always the most popular political platform, but if you want to make politicians care about music as much as you do, then send them the loudest message with the quietest action possible: that little penciled tick in a square box next to their name in the polling booths.
7) Become A Music Victoria Member
If you don’t want your live music taken for granted, then giving a small contribution to the peak state music body that makes that very principle their mantra is probably the single best thing you can do. Described simply by Donovan as “the representative organisation which is supporting and advocating for venues, musicians and music lovers.” Music Victoria has been fighting for positive change for a long time and in recent years is beginning to see some very positive results, including cutting red tape for All Ages gigs and pushing for live music reforms under the Napthine administration earlier this year.
Not only will a Music Victoria membership give you that warm fuzzy glow of knowing that you’re helping an organisation that’s making a difference, but you get some neat fringe benefits to boot. For less than the price of a vinyl record, you get access to discounts and special offers on everything from band merchandise to insurance, access to fitted earplugs, CD and vinyl manufacturing, regular professional development workshops and businesses, excess baggage allowances for domestic flights, and much more.
Read Music Victoria’s Position And Priorities paper here. For full details on Music Victoria membership and benefits, head to musicvictoria.com.au.
