We recently connected with Billy Weigle and have shared our conversation below.

Billy , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Growing up being mixed and living in West Virginia has always had its support and negativity, but my parents have always been there for me. Coming from a place such as West Virginia, it’s very traditional where people are judgmental, they don’t support you, and very traditional where people don’t travel and don’t understand various cultures and ethnicities. My nationality is Filipino-American, as my mom is from the Philippines and my dad is white. My mom grew up in poverty in the Philippines and always wanted me to have a better life than she did. I never went to meet my dad, as he died before I was born in a work-related accident. So, just think about someone who is now pregnant with a child coming from a third-world country with no family over here, and your husband just died. How are you going to maintain? My mom is one of the toughest and most determined people I know, and I will never know what it was like for a single mother to raise a child with minimal guidance. I grew up early with a single mother until my mom got remarried, and my dad is the only father figure that I know in my life. Many of my habits and traits are from him, and the environment around me has always made me reach out, wanting to know more. When I was three years old, my parents and I were driving home, and I saw a billboard stating to enroll in dancing. I told my parents I wanted to dance, and I learned tap, jazz, and hip-hop. I did dance from three years old up until I was 18, which was my senior year, and it also happened to be 2020, the COVID year. However, dance opens up so many doors for me. By the age of 5, I was already featured on NBC News for dancing and impersonating Elvis. From there, I was featured on NBC News three more times on a telethon for abuse kids, where I would perform in one hour and raise over $100,000. On the telethon, I did both singing and dancing. The next thing I knew was that my picture was on the front pages of various newspapers in different states and magazines. As I was still going to school, I was being booked across the East Coast, from private events featuring Senator Joe Minchin to opening up for former American Idol contestant “Christian Lopez, who has been featured on Rolling Stone and Grand Ole Opry. He is married to Jon Voight goddaughter Skylar Shaye. After performing, I slowly entered the acting business, but it was not what it seemed. When I was 11, I was asked to do a Raisin Bran commercial, but at the time I still had braces, and the producers thought it would be better to find a child with no braces for the close shot. In a few months, I found myself applying for a TV show, and the casting was held in Washington, D.C., which was very close to me. The show I was applying to was Disney Channel’s “Liv & Maddie,” and I was going to be a character in the show. So my parents and I were thrilled that I received a callback, and we were mailed the contract. My parents took it to our lawyer, and the lawyer said that the agency company mailed three papers and not four. The lawyer said the fourth page is the most important relating to the royalty and entitlement of a child actor. So my mom confronted the agency company and the team behind the show “Liv & Maddie,” and they brushed her off. My parents told me it was best that they would not sign the contract as it could lead to something that would not benefit me in the future. At the time, I was in middle school, and I was mad that I was going to be the TV and everyone around me would see Billy heading to stardom. Now that I know people and have seen firsthand how wicked multiple industries are, I’m glad God did not put me on that path. At the end of the day, no matter what I did, my parents were always supportive of me.

Billy , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Billy Weigle and I’m 22 years old and I’m currently in college. My major is Social Studies Education with a minor Global Studies. I graduated high school in 2020 with a 4.2 GPA I was apart of the 2017 WV State Boy Track Champs, Back to Back County Champs, National Honors Society, Spanish National Honors Society, Strings, and Journalism. Then in the evening after I got off from school and track practice I would head off to dance lessons. I graduated with an associates degree in 2021 at BRCTC and was on apart of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the Dean’s List. I transferred to Shepherd University where I will be graduating this fall. I haves always been around cars my whole entire life and I always felt drawn to the looks and the desire to behind the wheel. Not to mention, I have always been good at marketing myself and reaching out to some of the biggest people in multiple industries. When my dad retired in 2020 that is when I started getting more involved in the automotive industry. As for the nickname “Billy Bang,” I received that nickname in middle school. Billy Bang Cars is more of a branding business where I am called the car finder for both car enthusiast and celebrities who want a specific make and model. I have worked with Rob Evans of Bob Evans Classic’s numerous times whereas he sold cars to high profile NFL stars and has a following from Joe Jonas, 2 Chainz, Gabrielle Inglesias, and etc. As far as the content branding it’s very unique on various platforms where I will post variety of things and people will message or follow me. I have over 10 million views on Google Reviews, over 100k views on Youtube, clients and content creators who I work with. I just plan for the future to brand myself more and turn this into digital real estate where you can network. At the end of day I would like to be in a better position for the future.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I’ve always been unremitting, ever since I was little, and reaching out is the only way to know something. Also, being a lover of history, I’ve always wanted to know how things were back then, how people got the idea, and what the times were like back then. For a second, if you think about it, history tends to repeat itself, and if you can apply what happened back then to a modern situation, then you can pull it off for sure. If you don’t try, how are you going to ever know if that works? In Ecclesiastes 11:4, it says, “Even if you are unsure, you must take a chance.” Like Jeezy said Pray as it is up to God, and hustle as it is up to you! I’ve networked with Ponce De’leioun, a WV native who has made a name for himself in both business and music. He has told me some key details about how to market myself and little odds and ends. He told me, “Your network is your net worth. The people you surround yourself with will reflect your outcome.” Some of the other content creators I have learned from are Rod Watson and David Bullock (aka Alaska), who both have been featured on the Forbes List. I’ve built my audience by doing things that I would want to see or watch. I’m not in it for click bait, but for genuine content, and even that I would watch. When you’re being authentic, that is when the light shines through you so others can get to know you. You put me in the dark, but I’m still going to shine. As for my advice, you just have to keep doing it, and it’s all about repetition. Not every day is successful, and people only see the end goal. People forget about all the times you put in and overwork, and remember that the people who are really there for you and support you are the ones who want to see you make it. Remember, it’s God’s timing, not mine. TKWGO!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think what drives my creative journey is by thinking outside of the box. When you come from a place where people don’t travel, they don’t move and they stick to their bread and butter they never have the opportunity to explore. My mindset has always been different ever since I could talk and go to school. What really drives me is to see how far I can go doing this by my ownself and the ones who have helped along the way. I’m just trying to be like a little Master P in the little 90’s dib and dabble into what really works for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: BillyBangCCars
• Youtube: BillyBangCCars
• Other: Email: [email protected]
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