Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathaniel Villarreal.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
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I started the Anthem Network with $800 on a Monday morning after being disrespected in a board room. I was told I wasn’t wrong for thinking about the customer first, but they were disappointed that I didn’t realize the more money the firm made, I made as well. Before we broke for lunch, the gentleman that brought me into that business approached me outside and thanked me letting me know that was a fine answer and let me know I could take the rest of the day off; so, I took his advice and I went where I always went as a young child where I felt welcomed-The Grotto on Oblate. I sat there in front of the bronze mural and inscribed in Latin on the lower left-hand side was, “nihil inausum relinquere”, which means leave nothing undared. At that moment I remembered a conversation from one of my professors who was very well off. He told me at dinner once that the secret to wealth and happiness is to do what you love and to have purpose. It may take you longer but that’s the journey. I’m not sure why or how, it’s hard to explain, but at that moment I got back in my car, I went to Drought properties on Broadway and Nottingham, walked in bewildered without a clue of what I was doing. Some would say there is a certain competence with ignorance, I was just taking action to the next step. I was immediately seen by Harry Drought, Jr., who took me to two facilities-one on Blanco and the other off Nakoma and Warfield. With $800 I opened the first studio-Anthem Studios in 2009. It was geared toward music education and performance. Playing guitar was one of those God-given gifts and I loved it, so I found a way to share it. Before the day was over, I had decided to file for a DBA, open a business bank account, obtained business insurance, signed a commercial lease and paid my first and last month’s rent. I’ve always had a sales and marketing background, and some may find it funny, but my first job was commission versus draw; and I sold women’s shoes at Sears at Central Park Mall and caught the bug. Yes, I was also a CSA at HEB, lol. As time went on, the company expanded. In a matter of 3 years, we had outgrown the facility and decided to rebrand as Anthem School of Music, LLC. We also moved locations and built out the Domain Plaza shopping center and based the school on performance-offering students the opportunity to perform at entertainment settings such as La Villita and local restaurants, most recently at Rock & Brews. Several years had gone by, and as a company we’ve always looked for ways to innovate, recreate and inspire through performance, music, entertainment and more. I would also perform on the national and international stage from time to time.
Fast forward several years, we had opened other ventures. We opened the world’s first music-performance venture inside Rolling Oaks Mall-The Anthem Shred Academy, and the Anthem Entertainment Venue, which was a full-scale performance site. It was exciting and a fun time for us. We were doing something that had never been tried before, we were transforming the use of an outdated facility and finding a way to generate new interests by exploring the possibilities of, “if”. It worked; 2018-2019 were amazing years for the music school. The Shred Academy was thriving with new interest.
You see, we used to throw concerts in our parking lot and other locations, including Boerne. The cost was always expensive for a full production-stage, lighting, sound, security, licensing, etc. If we rented out a facility there was also a rental fee and additional insurance. I decided we can open an event venue, and when we perform or have concerts, we have a dedicated facility, it only made sense. Everything was firing on all cylinders. We had several successful concerts inside the mall, we definitely got our share of condescending remarks and we just laughed it off. Things were great, music filled the mall, the venue was huge, our students were performing, we were off running. Then COVID-19 happened. Before the closure came, a mandate was handed down. We had a successful show with a band called Drowning Pool, a student showcase, and additional events.
In March I had a friend in the health department notify me that they were going to shut things down, and he explained the exemptions due to the nature of the business-we are an educational facility. The only exception was the school. Public gathering places like malls were shut down in late March. We received notification there was no immediate plan and that ownership was following protocols of the US government. The only thing open in the mall at that time was Chick-Fil-A. We made a very painful and difficult decision-to withdraw the Anthem Shred Academy and the Anthem Entertainment Venue due to the unforeseen nature of the pandemic. Before the shutdown took place, I had received several calls from streaming brokerages and we had already decided to get ahead of the curb, contact our student base and explain our exempt status. We initiated a course of action for students who would remain at home, with a quality media package that would allow students to learn music with clear sound and interaction between instructors, students and family members. When we decided to close the operation at rolling oaks mall, we knew there was an opportunity to engage with an audience that was going to be stuck at home. April 2, 2020, we launched the Anthem Entertainment TV network.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not been smooth. It is not supposed to be when you’re taking action to achieve your goals: you have to expect some resistance and you have to be willing to engage with obstacles, challenges, and be able to learn from them. I will definitely say one of the most challenging aspects has been getting people to recognize that a product like this exists, or that being part of a network is not just another fancy word for Youtube. Anthems platform is different and offers something unique that Youtube and other streaming platforms do not capture.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I selected other: I represent all three categories. As an artist I have toured internationally to perform. I still perform, record music and share my craft with others through teaching. I own several businesses, and I have an undergraduate degree in Businesses with a concentration in marketing with a Master’s in Public Administration. I use the philosophies I learned everyday in business. In addition to this I also have obtained security licenses such as the Series (6, 22, 63, 66) and the Texas Life insurance license. I also run the day-to-day operations on the Anthem network. While I don’t do everything, I have an involvement in every decision that is made. I am an entrepreneur; one insight I realized is that you need people who know more than you in a certain field that will assist you on decisions and actions needed to be successful.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most challenging lessons I have learned is discerning who truly values trust and who does not. I have come to understand the importance of honoring my time and expertise, without compromising just to close a deal or gain a client. My Faith and Family will always come first: We will never get time back and I want to capture every moment with no regrets. Along the way, there have been individuals who have benefited from my ideas, insights, and platform—often without reciprocity. These experiences, while difficult, have only deepened my commitment to leading with integrity and surrounding myself with those who do the same. I’m enjoying my journey: I am living the dream.
Pricing:
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