Sadly, there are very few safety nets available to people working in the Australian music industry, most of who don’t have super, sick leave, or any real job security.
Music professionals who face illness, injury or some other life crisis can quickly find themselves unable to work again and with huge debts their unable to overcome.
Support Act is a charity, unique in Australia, providing financial relief to such music professionals. Support Act helps music professionals in all fields of the industry including singers, songwriters, composers, musicians, roadies, techies, managers, lighting techs and everyone in between when they find themselves down and out of luck.
And with the music industry still transforming at a sometimes alarming and violent rate, demand for Support Act’s services has been rising dramatically, increasing by 500% in the last year alone.
Even more distressing, Support Act receives no money from the government and must raise every dollar it needs to run its vital services.
This is where you can help.
Support Act today have launched Bandwagon, their most elaborate and ambitious fundraising appeal to date, and within a few hours they’ve already raised nearly $30,000.
Bandwagon is a crowd funding appeal via the platform Pozible, with the aim of raising $100,000 for Australia’s music industry charity. If they successfully reach their target, the crowd-funded campaign will be the biggest of its kind for an Australian charity in history.
“We’re a small charity doing a big job and so we’re thrilled that so many leading artists and industry figureheads have got behind this ambitious campaign to help music pros when times are tough,” says Chief Executive of Support Act, Joanna Cave.
Support Act have collaborated with a broad range of music stars, music industry personalities and venues on Bandwagon to offer one-off ‘money can’t buy’ experiences, and ‘limited edition’ product as rewards for pledges.
The unique packages on offer have been designed to provide extraordinary experiences for music fans and career development opportunities for those seeking a career in music. Money simply cannot buy a phone call on your birthday from your favourite artist, or an opportunity to have your song professionally produced and reviewed by the hottest names in the industry.
These once in a lifetime opportunities including concert and sporting ticket packages from Australia’s biggest and best venues and promoters for some of the most sought after events on the calendar; personalised birthday messages from a wide array of Aussie musicians including world renowned songstress Tina Arena, John Butler, Reece Mastin and Potbelleez and private performances, set in some of the country’s most exclusive restaurants such as Rockpool and Longrain, from some of the country’s most revered artists such as Kasey Chambers and The Church.
Packages start as low as $5 comprising a download of Cut Copy’s Where I’m Going and a shout out to each pledger in a specially produced lyrical video, and ranging up to $10,000 for a private dinner and performance with some of Australia’s best musicians; everyone and anyone, from music lovers to musicians to millionaires can get behind this very worthy cause.
“When Support Act offered to help, not only did this put me back in the workforce but it has given me my passion back and offered me a future”One of Support Act’s most well-known clients is professional saxophonist, Neill Duncan.
In late 2012, Neill lost his left arm to sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, leaving him unable to continue as a professional saxophone player. A close friend of Neill’s, refusing to give up on his friend and colleague, found a specialist overseas who builds instruments from scratch, in this case a one handed sax. Support Act contacted Neill to see how we could help and have covered the cost of the saxophone.
Neill said, “It was amazing to get the call, to have Support Act say look, we are here to support musicians who have come into bad times. It was amazing to get the call … Support Act said how can we help? Can we help you buy a one handed sax? And that’s amazing. Finding out what life is really about, what I’ve had, what I’ve got, and the amazing support I’ve had from Support Act.
“The cost of a one handed instrument was way out of reach for us. When Support Act offered to help, not only did this put me back in the workforce but it has given me my passion back and offered me a future”
Support Act also helps the families of music professionals. One of these is Lilli Lovegrove, daughter of the late Vince Lovegrove. Lilli has kindly given us permission to share her story to illustrate how your generosity can make such a difference to someone facing sudden and unexpected hardship:
Following an early career as a singer with The Valentines, Vince Lovegrove became one of Australia’s best- known band managers, music journalists and career-makers. He was a single parent to Lilli when he died suddenly in a car accident in 2012. Lilli was just 16 at the time and whilst she had her sister Holly, she was still at school and unable to support herself financially and Support Act stepped in to help pay Lilli’s living expenses and make it possible for her to complete her schooling.
Two years later, and earlier this year, Lilli wrote to Support Act to say “Thank you for providing me with all your help since dad passed. I’m truly grateful towards Support Act as it has helped make this stage in my life a lot easier. I have recently been informed of my acceptance into VCA University which I will be starting in March after moving to Melbourne. This feels like a huge move and an exciting new chapter which has been made easier by Support Act. Thank you!”
All the money raised from the campaign will be used by Support Act to help people in crisis.
You can check out all the packages jump on the bandwagon here.
