Have you booked your Pendoring seat?

More than 700 guests from all corners of the country are expected for the gala event, which once again promises to be a “glorious event without equal” and is regarded as a “highlight on the advertising calendar”, according to senior Pendoring co-ordinator Franette Klerck.

This year's Pendoring slogan “Don't neglect the Taal!” will also see the light at the gala event. Explains Klerck, “From the invitations to the audio-visual presentation and menu all aspects are aligned to this year's campaign. And the finalists' work, which will be shown on the three large screens, will clearly show that agencies certainly did not neglect the Taal this year.”

In addition to cash prizes worth R2 000, which can be won by the three winners of the musical game, every category winner's bank balance will receive a boost of R6000. The overall student winner will receive a bursary worth R10 000, while the overall winner of the Prestige Award - Pendoring's highest honour - will win an overseas study trip worth R25 000.

Kept entertained

In addition to the awards made to the top performers in Afrikaans advertising, artists such as Flip A Coin, Lianie May and Robbie Wessels will ensure that the audience is kept entertained. The MCs for the evening will be Idols host Liezel van der Westhuizen and Jacaranda 94.2 radio announcer, Maurice Carpedo.

Before the official agenda kicks off, guests will be treated to Leopard Leap Rosé wine and orange juice in the foyer, with ensemble Eclips providing background music, after guests have been shuttled in style from the parking area to the entrance of the dome. Toyota is providing two new Prius vehicles for this purpose.

In addition to a five-star meal, every guest will again receive a bag of goodies sponsored by Huisgenoot and TV Plus, which will be filled to the brim with presents from the sponsors. Gold sponsors are Ads24, ATKV, Die Dagbreek Trust, FNB, kykNET, Media24 (newspapers and magazines), Rapport, Toyota and Vodacom. Bronze sponsors are Beeld, Die Burger, Kfm, OFM, Sanlam, United Stations. Partners are Caxton Newspapers, DEKAT, Interactive Market Systems, Jacaranda 94.2, Klipdrift, kulula.com, Leopard's Leap Wines, Newsclip, RSG and Wag the Dog.

More fun this year comes in the shape of Ads24's Prize for a Tune game, which will see guests fine-tuning their musical skills. And after the official ceremony, everybody can continue partying with Jacaranda 94.2 until the cows come home!

But, says Klerck, Pendoring's role does not end with the gala event. “It is imperative that the whole value chain should constantly be made aware of the importance of Afrikaans advertising.

“Fresh eyes”

“Marketers should look at the figures through fresh eyes and admit that the Afrikaans market segment cannot be ignored. This will in turn put new work on the desks of good Afrikaans creatives and prevent them from packing for fresh pastures, thereby becoming an endangered species. Well-considered advertising spend will eventually filter through to the consumer, who will buy in the language of his or her heart,” believes Klerck.

Bookings for this gala event are made electronically/online and interested parties must email . Tickets cost R600 per person and R6000 for a table of ten.

For more, go to www.pendoring.co.za.