06 August 2012
A warm welcome extends to “DJ Schalk” who is new to DWR Distribution. Schalk Botha has been a long time friend to the industry and joins the sales team.
He arrived on his first day at the office equipped with an iPad linked to a PC Sound System and the music hasn’t stopped (nor the banter for that matter).
During high school, Schalk’s love for music saw him purchasing the latest cassettes and being asked by his friends to play at their parties. He used his mom’s old hi-fi. He considered becoming an architect but once he stripped his first hi-fi to see what was inside, he was hooked. “I got into electronics and loved it,” said Schalk. He did DJ work at clubs on the side and also worked for an audio company, installing audio, intercoms and alarms.
Schalk’s introduction to lighting came when he was appointed as co-resident DJ at Bourbon Street, a nightclub in Boksburg; he was known as DJ Shabz. He would play from 1am till sunrise, but throughout the night he ran the lighting for all the other performing DJs.
The Monsoon Lagoon at the Emperor’s Palace opened in 2000. Schalk was employed before their doors opened, before the carpets were laid and the lighting rig was installed. That is where he met Keith Pugin (also new at DWR), who at the time was part of the lighting installation team and who actually trained Schalk on the lighting kit. Schalk and Keith ended up becoming best mates.
In 2004 Schalk joined Prosound’s TNA Lighting doing technical sales, repairs and installation. 18 Months later, Duncan Riley, who at the time worked for Electrosonic SA, ask Schalk to join their team and to run the Lighting Department at the Durban branch. Schalk, his wife Michelle and their little girl Ashleigh, relocated. The couple’s second daughter, Amber-Jade, was later born in Durban.
Schalk stayed with Electrosonic KZN for five years and then left to try his hand in the staging industry. He freelanced with companies like Black Coffee and Hirezone, doing everything from rigging, programming and running shows, and then striking and loading trucks. “I didn’t see a future for us,” explained Schalk. “When you want to work as a freelancer it helps being young, having no kids and still living with your mom.”
The family moved back to Johannesburg and Schalk worked at True Technical and then moved over to Lamphouse before joining DWR.
“Now I’m here and I’m here to stay,” laughs Schalk. Everyone at DWR is pleased to have him.
Schalk is a family man and enjoys time spent with his wife, kids, cats and friends who often come over for relaxing “braais” over the weekend. Growing up with cars, going to the races with his dad and helping him restore cars, instilled a passion for motor racing. It is unlikely that you’ll find a more passionate Formula 1 supporter.
