Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Natasha Pearl Hansen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Natasha Pearl, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents had me young, so my grandparents were a big part of my life. As an only kid, I spent most of my childhood with adults until I started school, so they were always encouraging me to be creative, play outside, and be weird. We also had very little money so imagination was highly encouraged…

My family has always been a huge supporter of my choices. I was originally in the pre-med program in college, but they could tell I really took to my minor, which was theater. When I left school to try out Second City in Chicago, they were at all my early improv shows (which, God bless them for that), and when I started standup they encouraged me to pursue my dreams and move to LA. To this day my family, especially my Grandma Mo, are a huge part of my life, my material, and my tours. We may have not had money, but the support from them meant so much more, honestly. It helped me approach comedy from a positive space rather than escapism in my early days.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My main industry is entertainment, specifically comedy. I took the leap when I was 20 to leave college and move to Chicago, starting improv classes at Second City. After a few years of improv I naturally progressed into standup, but I also recognize the need to understand the business side of entertainment to really “make it.” I started directing by age 23, standup by age 25, and and I moved LA when I was 26. A few years into the LA scene, I launched my first production company which led to some major film festival wins, and helped me nudge into meetings with networks and production houses. This led me to start producing my own tours through venues and thoughtful brand partnerships, leading to a whirlwind year in 2019 where I toured headlining in Europe twice, had a weekly show in Las Vegas with a hotel, and I shot my first comedy special on my canceled wedding day (“I Was Supposed to Get Married Today,” out on Amazon Prime), which I also negotiated the distribution for.

My canceled wedding day special led me to launch my first startup during the pandemic, MyBreakUpRegistry.com, which I’m currently fundraising for. It’s been an exciting adventure to tie my personal brand of comedy into a startup, and have them grow alongside one another. I have a new mini special releasing soon that tells the story after my split with my ex-fiance, and I’m planning to shoot another hour special in the coming months that will touch on a whole new side of life, relationships and entrepreneurship. All in all, I love when my art or my business endeavors can bring levity while actually helping people, so my journey has landed me the perfect blend of my loves for comedy and business.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

My favorite part of being a creative is connecting with the audience. Comedy, and the act of being on stage, is a practice in being truly present. When I’m on stage I’m not thinking of anything else, and it’s liberating. After shows, my favorite thing is meeting the audience, even grabbing drinks with some of them when I’m on tour. I love to immerse myself in any local scene or culture, and really get to know the people in it. It makes touring so much fun!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The best things people can do to support the arts is follow and positively engage with artists you come across. We are risking a lot of our personal sanity every time we post a video, or share a piece of our craft with the public. We don’t expect everyone to like everything we do, but art is bold for anyone to create, let alone make public. We have to get better as a society of uplifting creatives, especially on social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nphcomedy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nphcomedy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natashapearlhansen
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashapearlhansen/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/nphcomedy
• Other: https://www.mybreakupregistry.com

Image Credits
Todd Rosenberg Matt Schmidt Sarah Elizabeth Larson