Hot Seat: Making It In The Music Industry… with Darren Sanicki, GI & Sanicki Lawyers

TMNhas revived Hot Seat to offer our young industry subscribers an insight into what it takes to make it in the music business.

Ahead of Melbourne's eighth annual Face The Music conference,TMNchats to Darren Sanicki,conference panelist andsolicitor and principal of the firm GI & Sanicki Lawyers. Sanicki is set to speak on the panelThe Realities Of Reality Talent Shows,alongside Andrew Furze (Music/Television Producer & Music Director, Hoodwink Productions), Brendan Maclean (Radio Announcer, Actor and Songwriter), Peter Karpin (A&R / FM, Mercury Records Australia) and Tim Morrison (Musician, Fmr Trial Kennedy).

What are your main pressure points that you focus on within your role?

Really just ensuring that anyone entering into a deal is not being taken for a ride. Legal issues are as common in music as any other industry – even moreso when you consider the complexities of copyright law. We do our best to make sure our clients are looked after from a legal perspective.

Do you have a rule of thumb that you’ve adhered to since entering the music industry?

Not really for me – but certainly for my clients. Be as great as you can be, surround yourself with the right people and the rest will take care of itself. Always be prepared to reach out when you think you need a hand.

Do you have any advice for those who want to enter the music industry?

People tell me that music chooses you – not the other way. I have certainly observed that the most successful people I know in music (not just musos but industry folks too) are alsothe hardest workers.

You’re set to speak at Face The Music in November, which industry issues do you hope are touched on during the course of the conference?

Whatever people want to hear about. Always plenty of hot legal issues going around!

If you could go back, what advice would you give your teenage self?

Do what you love. Love what you do.

Face The Music takes place at the Arts Centre, Melbourne on November 13 and 14.Passes are available atfacethemusic.com.auand member discounts are available from Music Victoria, AAM, APRA, AIR, Collarts, AIM and The Push.