Westdene resident’s passion for the arts is clear as she promotes up-and-coming players
As a PR guru, Bridget van Oerle, helps the performing, and other, artists get exposure.
Bridget van Oerle lives in Westdene and is an award-winning publicist and events, guru. She treats her clients like family and ensures she gets the best possible publicity and coverage for her clients.
The paper met with her twice in as many months at Buskaid’s Soweto String Ensemble’s 25th-year anniversary concert at Wits, and more recently at the Wits centenary celebrations. For both, Van Oerle had arranged for the press to attend and the strong relationship she has with her clients was evident.
She started her journey in this line of work more than 26 years ago when she formed BUZ PR, swivelling lightly to launch the BUZ Factor earlier this year in May, and which she runs with Thabo Pule. The dynamic duo has worked together for several years and offers tailor-made PR support for clients within the creative, lifestyle, heritage, cultural, business and NGO industries.
A graduate in theatre crafts, the creative industry remains her passion and is where she focuses most of her attention. “I love mentoring up-and-coming industry professionals and am passionate about securing exposure for the youth by showcasing their talents. Buskaid is a client I am especially proud of as it sees young musicians from the townships of Soweto discover a new path to success under the guidance of Rosemary Nalden through playing stringed instruments.”
An award winner several times over, she is the proudest of a more recent accolade, the Business and Art South Africa Small Business Award for companies that support the arts.
If you would like to contact The BUZ Factor for bespoke services in public relations, marketing, events, training, and stakeholder management, please email bridget@thebuzfactor.co.za
ALSO READ: Here’s to another 25 years for Buskaid
