Oppikoppi 17 - Unknown Brother

It has finally arrived! The last weekend prior to Oppikoppi ... there is much preparation to be done. 2011 has been getting me down so I am using this as the perfect opportunity to make it better, its a true story though that the year always gets better after oppi and if it doesnt then you at least know how you dont want to live, at the festival of extremes!

Its got the best dust in the world, the most amount of portaloo's in a single space - It also boasts the weirdest array of people who suddenly feel the need to make hippy drum circles for no apparent reason.

Its happening 5 to 8 August at Northam Oppi farm (which is to be honest thorny and dusty, hot in the day and cold in the night - and it recently became some sort of national monument!) Now lets be honest where else can you throw up or have sexy time in a monument? This year the theme is unknown brother which I have translated as, make as many new friends as possible, give them tequila and make them your brother.

Tickets are R550.00, its a bargain for that you get the dust, the thorns, the drunk people, the bikers, the jocks, the stoners and every other joe public. This year also has international acts like Sum41 and The Used among all the awesome talent South Africa has on offer.

There are two ways to approach this festival, I have tried out both and have had an awesome time both ways.
Option 1 - Just go, screw everything... you and some cash and off you go.
Option 2 - Go prepared, its a better option but not an essential option over the years the festival has grown and there are stalls that can take care of all of your meals.

Or you can meet yourself and the festival half way and take some of the following essentials. Tent, Food (tuna, cracker bread, coffee, sleeping bag, vodka, tequila, a head light, jumper cables, whiskey, a spork, sunblock and some water, and the goods needed for a 4am chip roll)

This year I will be taking my Sweetie Pie, Wife, Newly adopted ugly step sister, some people from work who will possibly never look at me the same, Little Foot, Angel Pie and some of the several Nic's from the dancefloor. Oh and lil G - What a bunch of legends.
 
A picture says a thousand words, here is some of the fun you are in for....

Pointless.Stupid.Annoying.Messages. SPAM

Everywhere we look these days there is a communication or a message, traditionally we only expected to be exposed to advertising and persuasion on television, radio, billboards and livery on vehicles. In today's fast paced internet driven world however the amount of advertising and persuasive messages have increased so drastically that they may as well be considered SPAM... yes, you read right, SPAM.

This does not say much for the industry that I am so very passionate about going forward, it also does not serve me well when asked what I do for a living to have an answer "I am a message spammer" although it does beat, "I figure out how to manipulate you into purchasing things you don't need".

The internet has also created a vast area in the below the line marketing world whereby you need to target a consumer through a brand ambassador in a unique way that also does not spam the consumer. You know who you are, the mean woman who pretends not to see the promoter wanting you to try her mustard on a piece of a cracker, I have seen you pretend to be so interested in pickles to avoid this promoter. Truthfully, I would do the same, I hate that a brand bugs me while I do my shopping, especially when your silly cracker is just going to make me hungry or I will feel bad and feel the need to take the mustard and then leave it on the shelf next door. :P

Urban Dictionary defines spam in the following way...
1. Annoying junk emails and messages.
2. Pointless.Stupid.Annoying.Messages.
3. The same attack over and over again with no style what-so-ever.
4. Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam

These adverts who won awards at the Cannes lions International Festival of Creativity in 2011 under the promotion and activation lions didnt spam.

Grand Prix - Promo and Activation Lion. - ROM

Silver - Promo and Activation Lion - TUMS

Silver - Promo and Activations Lion - BAVARIA BEER

From these winners it is evident that spam is not inventive, top of mind, engaging, experience focused, relevant or clever. It does not bring your brand to life. Brands that are alive are brands that succeed with the internet driven society.

Planking your Mom

So, planking... why are we doing it?

Cause its just so damn funny! Not only is it funny, its a world wide phenomenon that went viral somehow and now teenagers and drunk people all over the world are planking all sorts of things. Hilarity.

Here are my personal favorite plankers.

This is my dear friend Faith at the Johannesburg Zoo. What a winner!

This is my brother, funniest teen I know.

"The art of planking is to lay horizontally across any object or the ground with their arms by their sides, aiming to occur in daring situations or a brotherly display of core-strength.." Urban Dictionary

Seems simple enough? If you not into that, there is another option called Owling or Batting... This planet has gone crazy. I love it.

Be warned, not everyone is happy about this planking phenomenon, check out youtube channel from Ray William Johnson's =3, he thinks planking is the most stupid thing evar!
http://www.raywj.com/2011/05/14/do-the-plank/

Happy Planking!