Cobus Potigeter, YouTube drummer extraordinaire: So much has changed yet much is the same

Aug. 6, 2009 - PRLog -- 6 August marks the date three years ago when Cobus Potgieter, then an engineering student at Central University of Technology (the former technikon) loaded his first drumming video on the social networking channel.  

Since then, the self-taught drummer has garnered a big worldwide fan base with the biggest number of supporters coming from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. Equally impressive is his support from countries in the East such Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.

Cobus is currently preparing for the production of DVD which he begins next week.  The DVD will have two parts: An instructional on drumming as well as a documentary which will share more about Cobus’ life before and after YouTube.

Here Cobus tells of how his life has changed in some many ways while also staying the same.

So it’s been three years?  What was Cobus’ life like before then?
Much, much quieter! But also still very much the same. I still play in the church band. My friends are still my friends and I think I'm still very much who I've always been.

How has it changed?
I think the biggest change is the amount of people so actively supporting me, whether it is friends who praise media appearances (with a dash of friendly mockery ...) or companies endorsing me with equipment so I can keep doing what I love. I'm still overwhelmed every day and I still appreciate the support exactly as much as I did the first day. I'd say the only thing that has changed is the scale of it all.

Is this something you planned?
Not at all! I love drums and I love production. The marriage between the two was totally unplanned, definitely one of the coolest surpises ever.

When was the moment when you knew your life had changed, perhaps forever?
I've realised it so many times that I've stopped counting. Right there, when I read that question, I realised it again. This is such a surreal experience, especially as I never imagined myself as being in the limelight. I'm constantly surprised and overwhelmed. If I had to mention one time though, it would have to be when I flew back from my first meeting with SMG Africa, the company which is helping with the DVD project. I then realised "dude, this is really happening". That was pretty huge.

If you had to list three things that you have gained from the three years, what would they be?
I have realized that you should weigh up opinions and not count them, passion is as powerful as it is scarce, and you can never hit a snare drum hard enough.

Your fans … what do you want to be saying to them?
I’d rather they be my friends. People who support me that passionately without knowing me personally is something I can’t get used to. It’s such an overwhelming feeling and I honestly wish I could meet each one over a cup of coffee. It's so crazy to think how YouTube connects so many across the world.

Going forward, what are your top priorities?
My biggest priority is to stay true to who I am and who I am supposed to be. I don't want anything to change me in a negative way. I especially never want to lose my passion and love for music and drumming. I already love drumming SO much that anything else coming from this whole journey is an absolute bonus.

The DVD is now in production … how does that feel?
Great! I am unbelievably excited about the whole process  - being as busy and having my head in so many places at once.. It’s good to sometimes just stand still and enjoy it. Things are happening SO fast! It is an awesome next chapter of the story, so I am very excited to see it becoming more real every day.

Why are you producing a DVD?
The DVD project feels like the absolute most natural next step in the journey and it fits so well into the way everything has progressed. Money, "success" and "career" aside, this feels like a natural next step. The story needs to be told so that people can realise how possible it is.

How will this differ from what you have loaded onto YouTube?
The DVD project is going to be produced in almost the exact same way as the YouTube videos. My objective remains about keeping the relationship between the viewer and myself as far away from teacher/student mode. I don't see myself as a "teacher" at ALL, so the DVD will be produced with a very prominent student/student type of vibe. I'm just a self-taught drummer (with the good and the bad that comes with it) who is sharing some thoughts and ideas about music and about thinking outside of the box.

How is it progressing?
Very good. The response and support from the YouTube and website community is very positive. That's a big motivating factor. In terms of the technical stuff, the production is moving along awesomely. We're getting ready for the Instructional section's shoot next week. This will be followed by the documentary section's shoot (and road trip). It's such a cool place to be at and I can't wait to start producing the DVD.

What does the DVD include?
The DVD will have an instructional section which will cover such topics as writing original drumming parts, basic and advanced technique ideas as well as covering production techniques so that the viewer can learn how to produce better videos, especially for better marketing. It will also contain a documentary section covering the whole story and including the when, where and how I started drumming. I will also talk to the YouTube story and its progression.

How are sales going?
The first 200 pre-release orders will open on 21 September. According to the interest in the project, things are looking very exciting.

And the time lines for the DVD?
We're filming the DVD in the next two weeks or so, which will be followed by post production. I am editing and producing the DVD myself. The DVD will be launched by the end of the year. An official release date will be announced soon.

You are going home … what do you miss most about home?
Yes! We're going back to Humansdorp, where I grew up and started drumming, to film most of the documentary sections. I haven't been home in quite some months, so I am incredibly excited about going back. The thing I miss most about home is my parents. We are a very close family and I miss not being able to see them as much as I'd like. Living so close to the ocean is a close second place.

What does the family think?
My family is very supportive, especially my parents. They have always been totally supportive of my drumming especially since they know how passionate I am about it and how much I love it. This is something I appreciate way more than I can say, particularly since drums are by FAR the loudest instrument.

FOR THE EDITOR
Potgieter began playing drums at the age of 16 and posted his first video in August 2006.  In late 2007, he loaded his first hit track, Nsnyc’s Pop, which was his top viewed video with over 1,4 million views.

Over the past three years, he has posted five series of videos on the channel, each using different camera angles and editing techniques. His first series was the "overhead series" featuring 10 videos which was released in June 2007. This was followed by the "tri-cam" series featuring seven videos and the “dual-cam" series with three videos. The "blister" series with seven videos includes Potgieter's Most Viewed Video, Face Down by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus in February 2008 which attracted over 1,5 million views.

On November 11, 2008, Cobus Potgieter uploaded the Hybrid series (he used the acoustic and electric kits combined) which comprised 17 videos, including Avenged Sevenfold's Afterlife and Vanilla Sky's Umbrella (a Rihanna cover).

This was followed by the Michael Jackson tribute series which included four tracks, Beat it, Black or White, Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean.  This mini-tribute series' topped over 100 000 views in only four days. His drum cover of Beat it was the second most rated video by a musician on YouTube on the second day of its release.