Name: Andy Zeiss
Age: 32
Hometown: Cologne/Germany

What's the name of your company?
Andy: I don´t really have a company name, so I guess it´s just "Andy Zeiss". 2 1/2 years ago when I decided to be self-employed I didn´t want to think about a company name. People were knowing me by Andy Zeiss and not by a company.

Plus I just came from an event agency back then and didn´t want to line up in with other agencies just to be another one. I´m a nameless freelancer, haha! Who knows - maybe when the "company" grows I have to re-think that issue again.

Do you like being self employed?
Andy: I love it! Of course it has also advantages being employed by a company, especially nowadays when you have all those social securities, family and future in mind. But I wouldn´t want to change it again. It´s really not a money issue - never can be - but more the fact that I´m my own boss and I´m responsible on every step I do. I like that! But being self-employed also means staying up 28 hours a day a lot of times to get things done. It´s just a good relief to know that you´re doing it for something you love.

What companies do you work for?
Andy: Well I´m proud to call Red Bull, Eastpak and Carhartt my "main customers". Then it´s also Vans, Oakley, LG, several event companies and my own event line. Depending on the jobs.

Give a short description of what you do for those companies?
Andy:

Eastpak: I did a little marketing and consulting in the past and I´m stoked to be the new Int. Bmx TM for Eastpak. Implementation of the brand at bmx related events also counts to my job description.

Red Bull: With Red Bull I share a long partnership which I´m proud of. My jobs for Red Bull were/are event coordinator, project manager, judge, mc, event consulter, etc.

I´m helping out Carhartt with some bmx events, I mc a lot of major events, I judge at events. Pretty much eveything I do has to do with Bmx - sometimes also Mtb. I also set up the rebeljam together with my partner in crime Mike Emde. That project also takes a bit of time.

When is the date for this year's Rebel Jam?
Andy: 11.- 13. August 2006 - In Berlin that is!

Why should people check it out?
Andy: ? - Location - Format - Vibe - Girls - Bus rides - Berlin - Goodie Bag - ? I dont know - Am I supposed to say that it rules here? hahahaha! But serious. Mike and I had the feeling to set up a comp with ingredients that were missing at other events. Dont get me wrong, we respect and enjoy every single event out there but we wanted to create an event weekend without really creating it - you know what I mean? Riders treatment, flowing atmosphere, no pressure and the location are some facts important to us. I mean each to his own. You´ll always have people loving or hating something. Everybody is more than welcome to make their own experience.

What else is on the program for 2006?
Andy: There are several events and project for 2006 in the loop. With some it´s still kinda early to mention - but you´ll see anyway. Beside that I just want to travel a lot, meet my friends more, family, ride, be a good TM, taking a lot of photos (my new passion), etc.

Thanks "20D"!
Thanks for the opportunity Bart - keep FAT the way it is!

BdJ

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2010/9/1 21:00:00 - Road Fools 18 Edit 2 - Daddy & the Tree
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2010/9/1 10:19:20 - Eurobike 2010. Open for 2 hours and the first update of the new 2011 BMX products. By bdJ
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