Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla and Gabriel Lopez.
Karla and Gabriel, please share your story with us.
We started by simply doing what we were passionate about. Even when we first met each other, we were so happy to sit and talk about the heart we have for children and music, and the importance of carrying out the duty we have as adults to invest into the lives of children. So, when we knew we were going to spend our lives together it was just a matter of asking ourselves “when do we launch this thing?”
We knew what we had to do, so we just went for it. Karla got certified as an early childhood music director, and I (Gabe) worked on the name, design, and marketing. We did a month of free classes with our friends and family to find our groove, work out the kinks, and it kind of organically grew from there.
We’re still learning a lot today and we’re not quite where we want to be yet. However, through navigating the beginning stages, we knew that there was a lot of value in transparency, networking, and community. Children deserve and will follow a transparent teacher, parents/nannies love a consistent and fun community, and we just genuinely LOVE people. Perhaps the best decision we ever made while starting Little Parade was to carry a cooperative mindset, not a competitive one.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not really a smooth road, but more of a fun learning curve. We chose to handle everything ourselves, so everything you see in Little Parade was done from scratch (i.e website, logo, album, business cards, marketing material, 80% of songs done in class, etc.). We wouldn’t even call this stuff a struggle though, because we learned from it. We also learned that doing things ourselves was the best way for us to discover our identity as a business.
Like we mentioned before, we’re still not exactly where we want to be, and so the challenge to make the best decisions for the business will always be there. But like they say, “it’s not the load that breaks you, it’s the way you carry it.”
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Little Parade – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are an early childhood music class that gives the opportunity for children to experience music in a way that promotes healthy, holistic development. We exist to supply a unique environment where parents/caregivers can bond, learn, and grow together in special ways that only music can provide.
What sets us apart is intentionally having classes in many neighborhoods. We thought about the storefront idea, and as attractive as that sounds, we like the idea of going TO communities as opposed to making them come to us. Right now we do classes in six Chicagoland neighborhoods, and in two languages. I (Karla) am Ecuadorian and fluent in Spanish so I knew that almost immediately set me apart. There are obviously other Spanish music teachers, but it’s unfortunately uncommon.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago is the melting pot. To our advantage, we have 77 unique neighborhoods to learn from and try to connect with. Not many cities have that… at all. We all want the same thing at the end of the day, and that’s acceptance and love. So, with Little Parade, I (Karla) have the unique advantage to meet and work with many people groups. In addition to that, we love that the city is filled with so many thriving artists and entrepreneurs that we can learn from. On most days, we co-work at coffee shops with friends that are better in certain areas that we are not.
What we like least about Chicago is its unpredictable weather. Do you know how hard it is planning outdoor events and classes?
Pricing:
- Single Class: $18
- 4-Class Pack: $68
- 8-Class Pack: $128
- Drop-in (at the door): $20
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littleparademusic.com
- Phone: 773-251-7446
- Email: karla@littleparademusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/littleparademusic
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/littleparade
Image Credit:
https://www.melodyjoy.co/
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