‘I want to leverage my luck, helping people who are less lucky’: Tim Minchin gets behind Ausmusic T-Shirt Day

November 28, 2024 9:23

Tim Minchin, says he wants to help those in the creative industries however he can through his partnership with local music industry charity, Support Act.

In support of Ausmusic T-Shirt Day on Thursday – which celebrates local music and talent while raising funds to assist Australian music workers in crisis – the Australian musician and comedian appeared on a recent episode of the Fear & Greed podcast where he discussed his work with Support Act.

“I don’t feel the urge to support Support Act because of my own experience. In fact, it’s kind of the opposite,” Minchin said.

“Although I’ve had my ups and downs – and I’ve worked pretty hard – I feel an overwhelming sense when I reflect on my career is of how lucky I’ve been. But because I’ve been lucky, I guess I have an insight into what it looks like to not be.”

Minchin shared his own experiences coming up in the industry and said that it wasn’t until around the age of 30 that he started to enjoy success and financial security on the back of major works like his successful West End and Broadway music, Matilda, and locally-made TV series, Upright.

“You can’t underestimate that [financial security],” he said. I think a lot of people get into music thinking they’re gonna be rich and famous. You don’t want either of those things, but you do want stability. You do want to know where your rent’s coming from and that you can get your kids through school and stuff.”

Minchin urged everyone to get behind Ausmusic T-Shirt Day however they can to support the local industries.

“I think we should be very, very proud of our arts in Australia,” he said.

“I think we punch way above our weight. It’s a country full of brilliant creatives and I think we should be proud of our music industry, proud of the creative diversity within it and aware that, although it just looks like a whole lot of fun, it is not an easy place to be and we definitely lack some of the infrastructure that more conventional workplaces have.

“So anything you can do to raise awareness and give a bit of money, I think it’d be great. I think it’s a good cause and something we can all get behind because we all consume music and it’s a real big part of our national identity, I think.”

Listen to the full podcast here.