I only knew what I wanted to do with my life at the age of 27. After school I studied journalism but I wasn’t a great journalist. I wasn’t a good one either. I was pretty bad. My heart wasn’t in it and I spent my twenties traveling overseas – packing CDs, folding blankets, working in a bakery etc. I even worked as a dental nurse for my sister Louise who has a practice there. Oh and I took a lot of drugs. I came back to South Africa and my sister Jacky who is a producer suggested I try copywriting.

After a year at Red and Yellow Advertising School I dropped out and started working. I didn’t have money to finish my studies and was tired of the student life. I quickly found a job and earned R2900 per month – this was in 2001. I loved advertising and I started doing well. I quickly realised that loyalty towards a company was bullshit and as soon as I felt comfortable at an agency I would move. The longest I stayed at a place was 18 months. You see it’s different in the ad industry. It’s good to move around. You get to know more ad people and you get to work on more brands. After about 3 years I won my first award and got addicted to the awards scene. I worked really hard the next few years and loved the high of walking on stage. But then one day I realised the only people who cared about advertising awards were advertising people. The rest of the world couldn’t give a shit. In fact my non ad friends didn’t understand why there were an advertising awards show every 2/3 months. The truth is the advertising industry thinks it’s special.

I was getting tired of sitting in client meeting and doodling while a client was bitching because they didn’t like the way their font looks on a bus shelter ad. Ja as if anyone cares?!

After about 8 years in the industry I decided to start my own agency. After all that’s what creatives do. That or direct porn movies or start a framing business. But I couldn’t deal with clients. I couldn’t stand it if they checked if my ad ticked all their boxes. So I decided to become a freelancer. That way I don’t have to deal with clients and I can move around all the time.

When I saw Blink Stefanus for the first time I knew there was something there – I’m not talking about his helmet. Instead of spending my free time thinking of pro active ideas for agencies I spent all my time brainstorming ideas around him. I wanted to be the client and the creative. I wanted to do everything with him that I wasn’t aloud to do with other brands. I know all the rules and I will break every one of them.

Blink Stefanus and I are going to Cape Town tomorrow and I have to start packing.

Some of the wedding pics are on the facebook group MAN MARRIES LOGO. The rest will be uploaded this week.

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