A fun spin on the concept of sponsorship

With the dismantling of the apartheid-era arts councils, it's become a scramble for artists to find funding. Comedy has a huge following - laughter is a great release - but despite getting bums on seats, it's not easy to come up with production costs.

Joburg-based stand-up comic Chris Forrest, who wraps up a season of Who's Your Daddy at the Kalk Bay Theatre on August 6, has brought a fun spin to the concept of sponsorship. Courtesy of his sponsor, Huggies, there is a free pack of newborn wet-wipes on each seat.

If you don't have baby in the house, we must mention that wet-wipes are great to have in the car to clean the windscreen. Forrest’s show is a primer for those contemplating parenthood and about how babies tend to shake things up. He tracks the trimesters - during his wife's first pregnancy - ending with the reality of sleepless nights and disruptions all round.

Forrest says that he had researched Huggies and was already using a pack or two as props in Who's Your Daddy. He happened to attend a Huggies breakfast for "influencers" and the opportunity came up to get the brand on board. 

“I was sitting next to the marketing manager. He said if there was a potential project, they'd like to be involved. It was before my first ever National Arts Festival (NAF) run and I showed him the poster - with Huggies in it. The rest is history.”

In addition to product placement, Forrest received funding to help pay for production costs, a big help when touring the country on the festival circuit. Branding and corporate sponsorship are not new territories for Forrest. 

“I've done a fair bit with product placement on the TV side of things and when I do corporate shows I normally incorporate their product in some way or other.”

It is Forrest’s 18th year as a stand-up comic. “I did an open mic spot to impress a young lady. I didn't and she dumped me but I had another go and ended up falling in love with comedy instead.” 

He subsequently found love with media whizz, Tabitha Hoy. Hoy operates Pickledginger, a production company which manages Forrest and other comics. Forrest is the Daddy but she is the Producer.

What's next for Forrest?

“I'm currently doing Don't Burn Your Sausage, with celebrity chef Pete Goffe-Wood. It's a comedy-cooking show. It will be on in Joburg in September and hopefully we'll bring it to Cape Town soon.”

Tickets for Who's Your Daddy cost R150. Book at www.kalkbaytheatre.co.za or call 0217887257.