Happy Bloo Monday 👋💙

Hey Bloo fam,

This week we’ve got a host of opportunities and events for creatives.

We’re also diving into something that every creative, freelancer, and small business owner knows all too well: taxes. Not the most glamorous topic, we know but understanding how money flows is just as important as building your craft.

Here’s what’s inside this week’s edition:

• 🎉 Big news: Our upcoming Bloo community event connect, learn, and grow.

• 🔥 Debate of the week: Should creatives and influencers really pay tax?

• 🛠 Practical guide: How freelancers and SMEs can tackle PAYE tax when work together without the burden.

• 🎬 Opportunity spotlight: Reel to Reality Film Festival get your work on the big screen!

Let’s get into it.

🎉 Announcing Our Event

We’re thrilled to finally share it, our next Bloo community event is officially happening soon!

Taking place during Global Entrepreneurship Week (10th - 14th November) at Artistry JHB. This is a space for festival and event organisers, marketing and promotions teams, activations specialists, and the freelancers who bring these experiences to life to connect, exchange insights, and collaborate on the future of the creative economy.

The event will dive into topics like:

• Scaling creative campaigns and events while managing the financial and operational challenges behind the scenes.

• Securing sponsorships and funding for festivals, activations, and cultural campaigns.

• Navigating the business of creativity from freelancers managing payments to SMEs orchestrating large-scale creative projects.

📍 Location: Artistry Johannesburg — 22 Fredman Dr, Sandown
🎨 Strict Theme & Dress Code: Blue and Pink

The event and panel discussion will be hosted by SAFTA award-winning actor, filmmaker, and entrepreneur Niza Jay, known for his performances in Inxeba: The Wound and You’re My Favourite Place. His energy and experience as a multidisciplinary creative make him the perfect guide for the day.

After the discussion, we’ll close the afternoon with food, drinks, and networking in the Artistry Lounge set to a smooth playlist curated by Nouveaux (Neo Mosito) one of our panellists and one of the founders of Soundset Sundays.

⚡ Spots are limited and we want to give members of our community the first opportunity to get tickets for this exclusive event — so look out for RSVP link in the newsletter next week!

🤔 Should creative freelancers and influencers pay tax?

It’s one of the hottest debates in the creative industry and the answer is yes, but with nuance

On one hand, formalising income through tax strengthens the industry:
✔️ Legitimises influencer work
✔️ Enables clearer contracts and IP protection
✔️ Recognises the creative economy as a serious contributor

But here’s the challenge:
⚠️ Many smaller creators earn inconsistent income, or receive perks (products, travel) instead of cash.
⚠️ A one-size-fits-all approach risks stifling growth.

The way forward? Simplified tax processes, clearer guidance from SARS, and support for small creators. Done right, taxation can encourage professionalism without punishing emerging talent.

• Yes: Paying tax makes you a legit business, builds trust with brands, and opens doors to loans or global gigs.

• No: Irregular income, confusing rules, and high admin costs make tax feel like a burden.

Here’s the truth: tax isn’t going anywhere. Ignore it now, and it can come back as penalties later. Learn it early, and it could actually work in your favor.

💭 So, what do you think the price of success or a barrier holding creatives back?

📖 Coming soon: Simple Tax Guide for managing PAYE for SMEs and freelancers

Next week we’re dropping something every freelancer and small business owner needs: a practical, guide to handling PAYE when working together on projects.

The guide will give simple scenarios of when and how a business should handle PAYE for freelancers, as well as how to track tax for your submissions come tax season.

Whether you’re a one-off gig freelancer or managing ongoing projects, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s a quick preview of what’s inside:

For SMEs Working With Freelancers

• ✅ Collect all freelancer FICA details upfront (ID, tax numbers, bank confirmation).

• ✅ Clearly define who’s responsible for tax the SME or freelancer to avoid messy situations.

• ✅ Distinguish between once-off vs ongoing engagements:

  • Once-off gigs: Freelancers handle their own taxes, keep track of deductions.

  • Ongoing contracts: SMEs/agents often handle tax & UIF contributions monthly but freelancers remain ultimately liable, so stay on top of filings.

• ✅ Know which authorities to report to: SARS, UIF, and COIDA (for ongoing contracts).

For Freelancers

• 📄 Keep all contracts and receipts organized digital storage like Bloo Money or Google Drive works wonders.

• 🗒 Track travel and work-related expenses in a logbook it makes claiming deductions easy.

• 🔄 If an agent pays taxes on your behalf, follow up regularly to ensure everything is declared.

• 💳 Tax directives: For special lump-sum payments or hardship cases, apply via SARS (with employer/agent support) to reduce tax liability.

Next week, we’ll break this down step by step with real examples, tips, and practical tools so taxes stop feeling overwhelming and start working for you.

Stay tuned 💙 you won’t want to miss it!

🎥 Reel to Reality Film Festival

Filmmakers, mark your calendars!

The Reel to Reality Film Festival run by Behind Her Lens Visuals is an annual celebration of films by African filmmakers and creators of African descent, spotlighting the past, present, and future of storytelling through strong, authentic voices.

This year, the festival comes with a fresh twist: an outdoor experience blending community, nature, escapism, and African cinema.

You can get information from the film festivals programme
🔗 Full Reel to Reality Festival Programme

The festival will be taking place in both Johannesburg and Cape Town.

📅 Johannesburg: 10/11 October 2025 Lang de Moun Mon

📅 Cape Town: 18 October 2025 The Grand Daddy Boutique Hotel

🎯 Featured Opportunities & Events for Creatives

Spring’s in the air, and so is creativity

October is packed with chances to show up, show off, and take your ideas further from art and film festivals to open calls and funding opportunities across the country.

Thuthuka Co-Development Fund (NFVF + NFF)

📅 Deadline | 7 October 2025
A film co-development initiative supporting one South African and one Dutch feature project. Up to €40,000 available, with script development, coaching, and workshops in Rotterdam and beyond.
🔗 Apply Here

National Arts Council (NAC): PESP 6 Funding Call

📅 Deadline | 9 October 2025
Funding support for arts and culture projects across disciplines, with allocations from R300,000 to R800,000. Proposals must focus on job creation, youth, and vulnerable groups.
🔗 Apply Here

Fak’ugesi Festival 2025 – #PowerSurge

📅 7–12 October 2025, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Africa’s leading digital creativity festival returns with art, gaming, XR, AI, and music. Featuring awards, showcases, and global conferences, Fak’ugesi is a must for digital creatives.
🔗 Programme & tickets

🚀 What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next newsletter the momentum doesn’t stop here! 💙

📅 Event Page Going Live: Next week, our Bloo community event page will go live for our next event! 🎉 Secure your seat early and grab your ticket spots are limited, and you won’t want to miss an afternoon of real talk, networking, and inspiration.

🔌 Practical Tax Guide: Our tax guide for freelancers and SMEs will be available for download next week 💼. Step-by-step advice, real examples, and tools to make managing your finances stress-free keep an eye out!

Mental Health Awareness Month: Being a creative isn’t easy and during October which is mental health awareness month, we aim to knowledge about the realities of being a creative and how it affects so many people. As well as sharing any resources or information which could help anyone in our community 💙