Face The Music: Mel Lewis

How did you first become involved in the music business? I was studying Writing and Editing at RMIT, helping my friends' bands with press materials and ad bookings, while writing for FasterLouder and going to as many music conferences I could get into for free.

What's your area of expertise and what experience do you have? I love working on strategy — I constantly refer to "narrative". I've been in music ten years — after years in logistics, and operations management — and have done every shit job known to woman.

What topics will you be mostly talking about at Face The Music? In the 'Music: My Brilliant Career' panel we'll be talking about what it takes to land work in the industry. I am planning on doing some inspirational Oprah-style ranting, without the free cars.

What do you hope to personally take away from Face The Music? These conferences rule because industry people are relaxed, catching up with their work friends from around the country. There are always great ideas, stories and connections in the air. I'd like a million dollars, though.

What's one question about the music industry you'd love to have the answer to? How can such a meaningful, powerful and important art form, that brings so many people around the world together, be so undervalued?