Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Boyer.
Nick, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I wanted to study astronomy when I was younger, however, life happens and now, I am an artist. I got my start drawing on my mom’s furniture. I won my first art contest at three and my parents were always very supportive of my creative aspirations. However, my story has a pretty dark beginning. Though I had always played music and created art as a child I buried that aspect of my identity in trying to find a means to care for myself as a young man. I attended multiple schools and universities throughout my early 20’s trying to find my stride in education but was unable to. My journey of becoming began when my mom died in 2011. When she passed away from an overdose, I fell into a great depression. I formed some serious gambling habits, debilitating alcoholism and drug use which almost led to me dying. Between the PTSD from that previous experience and being in and out of jail for a period of 3 years, I felt like I was done.
Over that stretch, I lost one of my closest friends to another overdose racked up over 6 figures in medical debt, got out of jail and was homeless. Luckily for me, it was short lived and a family from Baytown opened their door to me. I spent sometime sleeping on a recliner and then eventually their grandparents house. I didn’t work for a whole year but what I did do was have an opportunity to grow spiritually and play music for a church’s worship service. I spent over a year doing this before I eventually found myself without a place to live again. I sat hopeless wondering what I would do. I had no job, no education, and I was at a motel 8. I had put my last 750 dollars in a collection plate to show God I trusted him and I felt betrayed. I was sitting at Starbucks to use their wifi with all my stuff wondering what my next move was and my friend messaged me and said I could stay with him for a weekend until we figured out something else.
That weekend turned into a year and a half. I slept on a love seat but I finally managed to find a job and it was at Michael’s Arts and Crafts. I had started a program with Full Sail University in music production and was a volunteer at a non-profit here in Houston that helped rescue women from sex trafficking. I didn’t have much money, a car or career but I found some time finally to start indulging my creativity. I drew this girl I knew and posted it and at the time no one that knew me had any idea I did art at all and were blown away by my abilities. So much in fact, that a friend of mine who saw suggested, I do time-lapse videos. I went from no money from art to 5 figures in 4 months! I was amazed and where I resented getting on the bus and walking multiple miles a day to make 40 dollars at Michael’s morphed into having a career in art that I never would have thought could have been possible. I used the money I made from art along with a partner to create Mad Owl Entertainment.
We started providing graphic design services for musicians as well as consultations on how to improve their online presence. We went through some restructuring over the last 3 years but have found our stride in hosting more intimate house show experiences at the house venue. We book bands from all over the U.S. and have worked with national and local acts. We started the business with negative money and have really grown a community of supportive and wonderful creative people that support one another. My story is about having as many chances as you are willing to give yourself. I’m proud to be a part of Houston and the creative scene. My work is about providing opportunities to the people of a city that helped save my life. Maybe I can be that person who lets you sleep on my recliner for a bit.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If you have a smooth road in the arts and entertainment industry then congratulations. Honestly, I have had to overcome alcoholism, gambling, PTSD, and homelessness. I went from living in a crackhouse in Galveston to a 13 story high rise overlooking the Boston skyline to being homeless in a time span of 5 years. I have lost all my closest friends to substance abuse including my mother. I lived in underground poker rooms, took buses, been to jail. I didn’t have a car for nearly 8 years. However, all of these things are merely external. We sometimes feel like the cage is physical because actual bars are tangible. I think in my fear I allowed myself to project my failures onto my external circumstances. If I don’t have to accept the responsibility for my failures then I don’t have to endure them. My biggest obstacle in all one these struggles has been me. A victim mindset is not a victorious mindset.
Mad Owl Entertainment – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Mad Owl Entertainment is resourceful. We specialize in creating experiences and content. If you ever want to do a live stream, a house show/venue, need graphic design work, recordings, video editing work, or fine art we are there to help you develop your dreams. We host shows in San Antonio and Houston and have been running for 3 years now with no start-up cash at all. We aren’t perfect and we have made some mistakes as most businesses do along the way but I am proud of the way we value people. There are many companies in Houston that are predatory and prey on new artists which cap the ability for the scene to develop and grow. We aren’t a get rich quick scheme and we don’t extort people. To be honest, we don’t even make much money on shows if any at all. We are focused on building a community of people that love and appreciate one another for their contributions. We want to be the company that shows you how much we appreciate your creative voice and for anyone who works with us it is always an honor to be trusted with something so intimate. While some people approach the scene as conquers we like to think of us as a company that unites people through supporting their efforts and cross-promoting.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I don’t think a formal education is necessary by any means to have success, particularly into days age with the internet being as powerful of a tool as it is. However, I believe me finishing my Bachelor’s degree was easily my most impressive accomplishment. Three-fourths of my degree was done sleeping on other people’s couches and moving every 6 months. I have certainly overcome a lot in my life but that was pretty incredible considering my previous lack of success in institutionalized learning. Next to that releasing my first EP was a big moment for me. I don’t sell my work online so if you want to get a copy you got ask me in person. I hand paint all the covers for each one for the CD sleeve.
Contact Info:
- Address: 19623 Beachy Ct Katy, TX 77449
- Website: www.madowlentertainment.com
- Phone: 346-218-8697
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/madowlentertainment
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/madowlmanagement
Image Credit:
Nick Boyer, Frederick Mount, Lindsay Erin Sprague, Jillian Wilde Photography
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