Her Story
About April
I've been singing since I was young, starting in church choir when I was just a child. My first time on stage was singing 'Jesus' Name' by myself. Growing up, I'd perform for my parents' friends in my striped pajamas, singing Michael Jackson. I did singing competitions as a teenager and by 16 was doing fill-in singing for the Spanish Choro Festival and Crestview Music Fest. At 17, I went to Tennessee to pursue a record deal, but I found out the music business wasn't what I wanted - I just wanted to perform. After having 4 kids and putting music on the back burner, I started Hysteria Entertainment in 2011 when a friend sold me a karaoke setup for $1,500. Within 6 months I was playing in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. I moved back to Florida, started a band that broke up pre-COVID, then used stimulus money to invest about $10,000 into creating the karaoke show I always wanted - with high-tech equipment, lights, screens, and projectors so people could feel like the star at a rock concert. About 4 years ago, I made the decision to go 100% family-friendly because I saw a huge lack of stages that kids could be a part of. I had some personal challenges that landed me in jail back in 2016, and while I was there for 14 months, God opened my eyes to see a need - I saw a rotation of girls going in and out, returning to the same situations. I decided to start working on a nonprofit to help stop that rotation. Last year was my 8th year off paperwork, so I was able to get back into jails to minister. I connected with Stephanie Fitzgerald who owns Freedom Life Compass, and realized the vision God gave me in jail was something He was going to hand to me rather than something I had to build. Now I work alongside Freedom Life Compass as an active volunteer, donate my business to help fundraise, and partner with Happy Life Cruises on worship nights and the Harborwalk Boulevard on community events. I use my entertainment business and connections to help nonprofits fundraise while creating family-friendly stages for kids. One of my karaoke girls from Freeport just made it to the final 30 on American Idol after doing karaoke with me for 4 years.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with April
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God. None of this would happen if it weren't for God. Every day, whether I'm doing a karaoke show, a paid event, or a fundraising event, it's all - God's the one pushing the buttons. I could not have done this without God. You know, every day I'm just trusting that God's gonna take care of it and pay my bills. God's Word says He brings beauty from ashes, and I've lived a hard life, but God always comes through. I keep a tattoo on my arm that says 'Thank God for fleas' from The Hiding Place book I read in jail, to remind me that during hard times, God still got this. We're supposed to thank God in all circumstances - it's either a blessing or a lesson, you just gotta figure out which one it is.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was actually from my grandma a long time ago. My grandma was probably one of the most gangster women I ever knew - she raised 6 kids by herself right at the end of the depression and lived a hard life. She always told me to find out what you love to do and figure out a way to get paid for it. I love music, I love community, and I love being blessed to be able to take what I've learned from my own hard life and use it to help others. That's exactly what I'm doing now.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Number one, honestly, there's a lot of faith involved in it. I could not have done this without God. You definitely want to make sure that you're doing business with the right people, because the music industry can be very - it can go one way or the other. It could be really great, or they can just suck you in. You have to have a good head on your shoulders, especially as a female, because it's still a male-dominated industry and you're going to be in rooms with people that you don't want to be taken advantage of. Make sure that you have a strong support system around you that's gonna help you make decisions. Be okay with turning a gig down because you're not comfortable, and trust that God's gonna take care of it. If your heart and your gut's telling you no, don't do it. Don't let anybody talk you into anything that you're not comfortable with doing or that doesn't align with who you are. You just gotta trust that God's gonna pay your bills. It is a seasonal thing, but you find a passion in it.
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