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Held in March in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, the recent inaugural Roady4Roadies proved to be a rousing success, with a net profit of $56,790 going to Support Act’s ‘Roadies Fund’.
Shining a bright spotlight on the diverse range of highly technical and creative skills required from live music production crew, Roady4Roadies also strives to raise public awareness to some of the less glamorous outcomes facing our beloved roadies. With the work obviously high octane, high pressure and sometimes highly dangerous, the intense pressure of the job itself can lead to not only physical and financial difficulties, but mental health issues as well.
Roady4Roadies co-organiser Tony Moran says “One of the most pleasing aspects was to witness so many of our top professionals, from all areas of the music business, pulling together as a team. Promoters, publicists, managers, agents, venues and artists, all freely giving their time... and their money! All working along-side each other with the best crew in the country, the best in the world.” Fellow organiser Howard Freeman put it bluntly: “I’ve worked in this industry for over 50 years. These are my people. I simply cannot stand by and watch this happen without doing something!” Support Act CEO, Clive Miller, said "Support Act adds its thanks and congratulations to all involved with the inaugural Roady4Roadies event. The funds raised will enable us to continue providing crisis relief services to those in need, whether it is paying the rent, facilitating access to housing, assisting with medical needs, or the many other physical or mental challenges that road crew sometimes confront. We are here for roadies and feel privileged to have been part of this great new initiative." Roady4Roadies was staged by a voluntary team of Australia’s leading live production personnel and industry professionals. Throughout the Roady4Roadies campaign, valuable music memorabilia was donated, some of it personally autographed by world renowned acts, including guitars signed by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Keith Urban and the Hoodoo Gurus, top flight road cases donated by Design Quintessence and a rare 3 volume limited edition of Australian rock posters are now all being auctioned online at roady4roadies.com/online-auction. The auction will be open until 5.00pm on Tuesday 30 April 2019. Roady4Roadies 2020 is already being planned as a truly national day for all crew on Sunday, 5 April 2020. Along with Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, the events will be rolled out in other capitals Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, as well as regional areas such as Newcastle, Geelong and Bendigo, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, Launceston and many more.
FOR MORE INFO ON THE AMAZING WORK SUPPORT ACT AND ROADY4ROADIES ARE DOING, HEAD TO SUPPORTACT.ORG.AU OR WWW.ROADY4ROADIES.COM
BY TIANA SPETER