Support Act Launches Bandwagon Fundraiser

3 September 2014 | 10:19 am | Staff Writer

The music charity has turned to crowdfunding to help maintain its vital services

National music charity Support Act today kicked off its hotly touted Bandwagon fundraising appeal, which is making use of the power of crowdfunding via Pozible to help the non-profit organisation reach its goal of raising $100,000.

The program officially launched at the flagship Allans Billy Hyde store in Melbourne, and, if successful, stands to become the biggest such campaign to date for an Australian charity.

In attendance were such industry luminaries as Ian “Molly” Meldrum, Stonefield’s Hannah Findlay, Ian Haug of The Church and Powderfinger, fellow Church member Steve Kilbey — who has also donated a grab bag of original art to the rewards program — Mondo Rock’s Eric McCusker, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley, of The Seekers.

Allans Billy Hyde chief executive Con Gallin was also there to help proceedings, as if he hasn’t helped them enough – he philanthropically donated the “ultimate” pledge package for the campaign, the reward for which is a new, five-door, “Phantom Black” Hyundai i20 Active hatchback and a casual $10,000 in credit for instruments at Allans Billy Hyde.

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Semi-unbelievably, that $25,000+ package has already been snapped up, with the bidders, new creative hub The X Studio, putting their $10,000 credit to good use by donating it to Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Australia.

Of course, you don’t have to be a Rockefeller to pledge your support – even $5 will get you a download of Cut Copy’s Where I’m Going for your trouble, which is a heck of a lot better than the straight thank-you letter that tends to be the default entry reward. Other rewards include a limited-edition painting by Steve Kilbey ($25+, with different paintings available the further up you go), a personalised ‘Happy Birthday’ video from a choice of Aussie musicians including Clare Bowditch, Eddie Perfect, John Butler, Josh Pyke, Paul Dempsey, Potbelleez, Seth Sentry, Tina Arena and Violent Soho ($250+), and even super-cush premium AFL tickets ($2500+).

Donations so far – including The X Studio’s princely pledge – have helped the fundraiser to accrue more than $26,000 in funding at the time of writing, while 28 days remain in the campaign, so the ball is well in motion, and you can head to the Bandwagon Pozible page to have a look at the broad range of enticing rewards and help get them the rest of the way.

Support Act is a vital non-profit service providing financial relief to music professionals in need, and, with a 500% increase in request for assistance over the past year alone, the non-government-funded Support Act relies on the generosity of the community to maintain its much-needed operations.

See the charity’s website for more information.