Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Shrader
Hi Benjamin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I had always wanted one thing my entire life-to be popular. It seems silly to me now, but when I was young, that was my dream. I have very severe dyslexia, so I had felt like an outcast for much of my life. Eight years ago, when I arrived at Texas A&M, I said, “This time, it’s going to be different. College kids like to party. If I can control the party, the college kids will like me”.
During my freshman year of college, I was part of a program then known as “Start Up Aggieland Program”, now known as the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship. This organization helps college students get their entrapanural dreams off the ground. At first, I was unsure what to do. I had no product, no widget, I couldn’t write code for an app, or even draw well. But, I could do one thing, and that was talk. So at first, I just pitched for other companies at competitions across the country while I gained the skills to launch my own.
I saw many individuals during my time in College Station attempt to promote events. They did so without an LLC behind them and with little organization, structure, or consistency. Here is where I saw my opportunity to bring order where there was chaos. To become the brand, to be the person people went to find out about the best events in town. At first, it started small. While others partied or did their homework, I was out every single night, roaming a bar crawl strip called Northgate. I shook the hand of every bouncer, manager, and owner that would look my way. Eventually, someone gave me a shot. And after drastically the profitability of that venue’s events and growing their social media presence as well as my own, I realized where the real opportunity was. It was in organizing one’s own events and concerts.
I began putting on my own shows, utilizing the connections I had established from Northgate to put on events in Houston, San Marcos, Austin, College Station, and across the state. Over time, I have had the incredible honor and opportunity to work with artists such as Parker McCollum, G Eazy, Whiz Khalifa, and many more.
At the hight of my success, I was diagnosed with a golf-ball sized brain tumor and had brain surgery in 2022. I had to relearn how to walk and lost my ability to hear in my right ear.
After this life altering experience, I wanted to return to my hometown of Austin Texas. I spent a year transitioning from College Station to Austin to work more with local clients instead of fraternities and sororities.
Now my company, Shrader Promotions LLC, is based out of Austin, Texas and operates as a full service event production company. I was very concerned that the business would not thrive in Austin, but thankfully my fears were misplaced as moving my company to Austin as not only has the business grown, but I discovered my wonderful fiance here as well.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I was young, my father told me that there were 2 paths in life: the easy road and the hard road. I often pick the hard road but eventually find my way. The brain tumor was a huge personal obstacle but I’m now flourishing in Austin. In regards to the business, starting off was rocky because I was 18 and didn’t know what I was doing.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My company, Shrader Promotions LLC, is based out of Austin, Texas and operates as a full service event production company. We specialize in concerts and music festivals.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can follow me on Instagram @benjamin_shrader and youtube at: youtubehttps://youtube.com/@benjaminshrader?si=sapmKWBd6i9QzNZc and facebook at: https://m.facebook.com/ben.shrader.5/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theshradernation.com/about
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbYPAtFKuRH5KTUG/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ben.shrader.5/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-shrader-a852a0152
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/benshrader1911?lang=en
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@benjaminshrader?si=eRB9GABjhToXH4j3
