Set VLC to Run on Start-Up/Other Options?

[MoneyAddyct]

I use an Android app called VLC Remote that allows me to use my phone as a remote to control VLC. The problem is that it can't launch VLC on it's own. It can only work if VLC is already running. So here are my questions: Is there a way to keep VLC always running? My initial thought was to see if VLC has an option to boot at start up. It doesn't. Since I'm running Windows 7, I can place applications I want to load at startup in the Startup folder of my Start Menu. This worked; however, when my computer rebooted, not only did VLC pop up in the systray it also brought it up on screen. Additionally, when I closed the opened VLC, it removed itself from the systray. Any idea on how I could effectively make it load, minimized and in the systray at start-up and how to keep it in the systray if/when I close out of a particular video?