MARKUS MUSELER – A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

Markus Museler of Old School Productions

I had fun interviewing Markus Museler, a radical dude who runs OLD SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS a.k.a OSP. Markus’s ‘feel the rush’ passion for outdoor sports has led him to create one of South Africa’s coolest companies, his vision and driving force has made him a force to be reckoned with. OSP is an EXTREME events based company established 3 years ago with a focus on extreme action sports and the aim of looking to bring something different to our audience..!  OSP brings South Africa the best and latest special planned events, making sure your event schedule never gets Stale..!  Old School Productions set up events all over the Western Cape…and national areas.

What is Extreme Sports:

It’s the desire to test yourself in a challenging physical activity. Certain sports were being called “Outlaw Sports” due to the fact that they are considered too dangerous. They included such things as skateboarding and snowboarding. A subculture setting began and these sports were generally youth orientated and were marked by alternative clothing styles, which has set the standard for most clothing styles to date.

In many of these sports, individual heroes emerged. In fact, many of the sports got their start by having some very talented leaders who demonstrated skills and stunts that their followers tried to emulate. The introduction of the X Games and ESPN’s use of the term did not begin Extreme Sports. If anything, it simply brought it to the attention of the public and made it a bit more commercial and controlled.  To read more please go to http://www.extremesportscompanies.com/history-extreme-sports

Now South Africa has it’s own extreme planned events company ‘OSP’ that has set the standard after the huge success of SUMMER X. OSP set the mark for extraordinary events production, bringing various events to SA which the public have been starved of in recent years..!  Markus and his team at OSP have set the bench mark for new ideas..!  Let’s take a trip into the mind of Markus Museler…

Here is a brief synopsis on Markus’s backstory; Originally he’s from Durban, growing up there and going to school in Kloof, Thomas More College. After school Markus pursued a Sports and Events Management course at Damelin, and after a 4 year Sports Management Degree is when he found his purpose in life.

Seeing he loved something different in Sports and Extreme sports as well as being outdoors as often as possible, he headed to Cape Town after school and that’s where he’s been living for the past 9 years.  Markus “I made CT my home and that’s where I knew I wanted to establish my business OSP.”  His entire life he’s been into something different like main stream popular culture and alternative sports like BMX and his favorite No.1 Freestyle Jet sking, finally a class that represented his style and personality.

Markus “Cape Town is the place to be in SA and hopefully I’ll be here for a while to come and reach my goals in life and grow the awareness of extreme sports through Old School Productions.”

OLD SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS

DIRT — WATER — AIR — WOOD — METAL – MUSIC

KDT: Markus, what is the cool logo of OSP resemble?

MM:  The logo was put together with the aim to make it distinct and recognizable. The OSP for the company name Old School Productions and the Chopper cross for the hardcore Xtreme aspect of OSP and the wings resemble the Freedom of events and action sports as well as the air that all the disciplines create. Then the Black & white are just colors that I’m amped on..

KDT: OSP to me has one of the coolest websites out there and very Web 2.0 – I like the black graphics as the background.  Who did your site and what kind of involvement went into it?

MM: Yeah the site is pretty SICK, getting stoked on it all, not quite finished yet but getting their. A team rider and good mate Marc ‘Chippy’ van Niekerk, 1 of South Africa’s top Skaters built and designed the site and the logo. He has his own Company called DataRocket.  He’s a styler man trying to keep the site fresh and updated all the time.  Marc gives the site the look and feel of what I want and the vision and mission of what OSP stands for.  Having info and Loads of event pics on the site is a must so the peeps can see what’s going on if they miss an event!

KDT: What made you get into extreme sports lifestyle?

MM: All my life I’ve been actively involved in Extreme sports, doing loads of BMX and Freestyle Jet sking as a kid. And lately MX and loads of Freestyle JS and all other adrenalin pumping sports!  It’s a lifestyle whereby you can do your own thing and it constantly keeps pushing you.

KDT: A company like OSP needs a mindset like yours, doing your own thing. How would you describe your company culture?

MM: The company culture is all about trying to LIVE THE DREAM… not having to work that 8-5 job and answering to anyone besides yourself. Having the time of your life but still making a living from it all.

Laid back…

KDT: You have this out-of-the-box thinking, what is your vision for OSP over the next two to three years?

MM: OSP vision in the next few years is just to grow into the biggest and best action sports and Extreme Events Company in SA! Bringing mind blowing and unique planned events to SA which haven’t been seen yet.  As well as building up the OSP lifestyle Brand-and-Team and just KICKIN @#% man…

KDT: What major challenges are you currently facing as a the man behind OSP?

MM: I suppose a few of the bigger challenges would be getting the really big sponsors to back Extreme sports and put in bigger cash sponsorships into the events and not just into the SA mainline sports. Another one would be to try restrain myself from being on my jet ski all day and not in the office. Haha

We’re getting there..

KDT: Dude, you pull some serious air on your jet-ski. OSP reaches for the stars I’m guessing, what makes OSP better than your competitors?

MM: Well I think I’ve set a bench mark for new and unique events, also made really great relations with both Sponsors and with the Action sports athletes!  I think I’ve got a niche market in the Western Cape, getting great cash prize money at events always helps.  Also Livin the Concept!!!

KDT: Who do you consider your customers to be, just action sports people or a wider variety?

MM: My database and clientele are a wide spectrum of the people in SA. We try to make event venues really accessible to all as well as the admission fee to the shows affordable to the general public.  We get youngsters and their parents at the events because we try to cater to all their needs. But mainly your 13-35 year olds are still the bulk of the attendance… Different events cater to different clients.

KDT:  Markus, you’ve been at this game long enough, in your opinion what are the most important skills and attributes to be at the forefront of extreme sports?

MM: We see people jumping off cliffs, BMX riders clearing 90 foot gaps and skaters doing tricks that sometimes aren’t even imaginable?  Constantly keeping things at the events new and fresh.  Keeping people guessing or having the right venues at the right time of the year.  Making sure that you stay innovative and get all the top athletes at the events to ensure a top level show.  Great music and beers –  always help.

KDT: You are an innovator, motivator and have high expectations, what is your management style like?

MM: I think I’m a great operator and organizer / planner.  I try and keep things constantly relaxed and chilled. It’s all about preparing, preparing, preparing and I give myself enough time to organize things properly and make sure sponsors and clients are happy. I get done what needs to be done! I think I’m a cool boss to work for and I do pay well for a job well.

KDT: Explain to us what your preferred method of communicating with your team is to pull off one of these events?

MM: I usually do most of the event and work myself and then get my guys in just before the events to help out and manage certain sections on the day-to-day activities like the bars, Xtreme sections, bands etc.  I meet with the guys and make sure we are all on the same page.  And as long as we are having fun and the guys know the drill which is awesome for piece-of-mind, we all have a great time.

KDT: Tell us about your sponsored rider MALCOLM PETERS, and how you came about signing him to OSP?

MM: Malcolm, he has been riding my events since the start and KILLS it every time on his BMX, winning most of the comps he enters and puts on a mad show when we do demos etc.!  We really dig his vibe and style and approached him telling him all about Old School Productions and that we’d like him to represent OSP.  He gets it, he really does and I’m stoked on him as a person and rider.  Malcolm amazes crowds all over SA, there isn’t a trick he can’t do. Oh yeah, and he just won the FOX PRO/AM comp in DBN last week.

KDT: How does anyone get sponsored by OSP, what is it you are looking for in someone?

MM: Seeing I’m involved in all aspects of Extreme sports events and the passion and discipline it takes, I’m trying to sign a rider from each sport.  I look for guys with the same vibe and ethos as myself and OSP as well as if they RIP IT! Currently on the team:

Got Malcolm- BMX.

Marc Van Niekerk- skate

Ryan Franklin –Downhill/dirt MTB

Andrew Guess – Trial MTB

Myself – freestyle Jet Ski

KDT: So what’s coming up – are there any new events OSP is planning before the end of 2009?

MM: Yeah, we have a few events still coming up before the end of the year. A big one is Urban FMX which is a FMX freestyle demo show in the Cape Town Cbd at night, which will be the first of its kind in SA in November 09. Stoked on this one, mind blowing.  There are also various Demo and Expo’s all over SA in conjunction with the new Nivea mens range.

Jet Ski X freestyle competition

Zimfest which is a weekend music festival we do annually

Hopefully another X Fest event before the end of the year, see if time allows!

KDT: Markus, do you any last words for readers that you would like to share?

MM: Finally this was awesome to do and get the word out in the Extreme action scene.  Hopefully next time we speak I’ll be the biggest events guy in SA and OSP will be where I envision the brand!!!  Hopefully kids out there get back on there bikes and boards and keep styling and look out for the next OSP event and we hope to see you there.

Here are some quick questions:

Last Trip You Were On: The Drive to the gym.!

Place To Visit: Swakopmund Namibia as well as Munich Oktoberfest!

Hobbies: Freestyle Jet- Sking..nothing better than playing in the Surf

Drink: Monster Energy and an Ice cold Hansa Beer

Band/Artist: Lincin Park @ the moment/ Crazy Young Lad

Competition: The One and Only X Games / all the events OSP does/

Last Time You Were Stoked: Watchin SA pump Aus in Rugby

Last CD You Bought: Monster Hits Vol. / No 399

Time To Wake Up: When the waves are cooking.!

Breakfast: Steak TarTar

Last Person You Were With: My Girlfriend.

Magazine: Locally Whipped. Promoting SA alternative sports

Website: Old school Productions / SK8 Africa – Obviously / 2oceans vibe.co.za

Last Thing You Read: Sept issue of Locally Whipped Mag

Car: My Colt 3.0l Club cab truck

Animal: Dog – My little Dachund Schnapps

Last Time You Were Mad: Always keep a smile

Last New Trick You Learned: Superman to Heelclicker / No Foot can to opposite no foot can

Movie: Any Romantic comedies.. hahaha

Place to eat: Sauls Saloon Sushi bar

Trick: Superman Seat-grab for myself / Double flip whips look insane.

So you pretty much got it all from Markus, whether you are looking for a full-service event planner, special event management, concert producer, sporting event, or someone to manage your corporate seminar, OSP can assist you in creating your next unforgettable one-of-a-kind event.

OSP can conceptualize, design, manage, and execute events that host anywhere from a 10 person corporate weekend, to a capacity concert, and everything in between. Each event is  designed to your specific goals, budget, and brand philosophy.

Please feel free to contact Markus Museler personally, this guy truly rocks and is the easiest person to approach.  Hit him up at the following:

Mobile: + 27 (0) 83-655-3176

Office/Fax: 021-462-4256

Email: markus@oldschoolproductions.co.za

markus1osp@hotmail.com

http://www.oldschoolproductions.co.za

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5307038223&ref=ts

Feel The Rush; Markus Museler.