In the Creative Industries there are plenty of times when disputes arise and go unresolved: songwriters battling over percentages of songs, photographers and graphic designers chasing a share of merchandise and income and bands having their songs used in films or ads without permission. While some of the bigger commercial ones get resolved in Court (or on the steps of the Courthouse), many smaller ones simmer and brood, in the meantime destroying relationships, opportunities and income.
On 25 May, 2013, as part of the VIVID Ideas Festival, artist managers Michael McMartin (Hoodoo Gurus) and Keith Welsh (ICEHOUSE) along with their friend and colleague Adrian McGruther (Intellectual Property lawyer) will be presenting a 90-minute seminar titled F@#k You!!: Resolving Disputes in the Creative Industries at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
With long histories in the music business, McMartin and Welsh (both trained and skilled Mediators) say they’ve seen plenty of disputes and argument which cost fortunes for people to fight out yet could have been resolved to everyone’s benefit if only the parties in dispute had sat down and talked their problem through.
“To say that it takes a huge amount of effort and time for an artist to establish their career or reputation is an understatement” says Michael McMartin “To then see it all go to waste because of a dispute that hasn't been dealt with properly is a tragedy. Hopefully our Seminar will help anyone nvolved in creative endeavours avoid that happening.”
Keith Welsh added “We’ve all had plenty of experience helping the artists, creators and businesses we work with resolve their disputes. Yet we constantly see people caught in a dispute or conflict are hesitant to communicate directly with one another. So to show that ‘talking’ isn’t as confronting as some people may think it is we’re going to run a short Mediation session so attendees can see it isn’t a difficult process to be involved in. The three of us have a great belief that people can solve their own problems without always having to get someone else (like a Judge) to do it for them.”
Thetwo are joined by lawyer Adrian McGruther who has a history associated with the music industry as well as other enterprises and he brings deep knowledge and experience from all sides of conflicts as the trio present ways in which to prevent disputes, deal with one if you are in it and an overview of what attending a Mediation session involves.
Says Adrian McGruther: "As a lawyer wedged between two high-flying managers, it's a sure-fire
recipe for an all-in brawl! So, along with my boxing gloves, I'll be bringing my legal and creative industry background to help our audience navigate what many see as the tricky and daunting world of Dispute
Resolution"
The seminar takes place at 10am on Saturday, 25 May at the MCA. Tickets are $15 available through Oztix – www.oztix.com.au. A special industry discount is currently available with a one-third off promotion by typing in the word “Velocer” when booking online.
www.vividsydney.com/events/fk-you-resolving-disputes-in-the-creative-industries/
