Life & Work with Nina Storm

Hi Nina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started L.A. WOMAN All Femme Revue five years ago, in 2017 to spotlight the incredible women performers of Los Angeles. L.A. WOMAN is a modern take on the classic variety show inspired by the tradition of cabaret. Because we’re in a city so rich with talent, I am privileged to be able to present artists from Emmy winning shows, national music tours and legendary stage productions. It’s a dream to be able to work with these phenomenally talented women! I had been working as an event and live entertainment producer for over a decade before I founded L.A. WOMAN. The show truly aligns my purpose in life: To thrill people through the magic of live performance.

L.A. WOMAN features comics, musicians, dancers, sketch actors and other performance artists. One thing I love is that no two shows are ever the same. We have a loyal audience who come back repeatedly because they know that they will always be surprised by our diverse lineup. The show is known for inspiring performances and the infectious camaraderie between performers and audience. There’s a real community around it, which means a lot to me.

The inspiration for L.A. WOMAN came out of a couple of experiences: I was surrounded by many incredible female comics and musicians and I wanted to create an environment to support them and connect these artists with new audiences. Also, as a dancer and choreographer, I wanted a place to perform my original pieces. Even though I spent my childhood as a musician and theatrical performer, it’s not something I ever pursued professionally. As an adult, I decided to reignite that creativity by getting back into studying dance. I started training at EDGE Performing Arts Center where I was fortunate enough to learn Fosse repertoire from teachers who had worked directly with Bob Fosse. My background as a producer combined with my return to dance reconnected me with my lifelong love for the performing arts. I decided I wanted to make a tangible contribution by creating my own unique live show. Early on, I pitched a version of the show to a well-known L.A. night spot and got a response was straight out of Old Hollywood: patronizing and misogynistic. I walked away from that encounter and immediately decided I would create the show that I wanted to see and perform in. I would spotlight L.A.’s best women performers on my terms. I knew I would never again ask anyone for permission to create!

L.A. WOMAN has continued to evolve over the years and I’m incredibly excited to keep developing the show and to take our audience along for the ride. We’re closing out this year with our Holiday Spectacular shows on Sunday, Dec. 4 and Thursday, Dec. 8 at our new venue, The Three Clubs in Hollywood. We’ve got a wildly entertaining lineup and holiday festivities will ensue! I’m super excited because this venue allows for a more interactive, unique production. You definitely need to experience the show to fully understand its magic.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In a lot of ways, and compared to other things in my life, L.A. WOMAN has felt relatively smooth. And I believe that’s because this is something that I am destined to do. We started out as a free, unpaid show and after the first couple of dates, switched to a paid and ticketed model. A big part of what motivates me is wanting to compensate artists for their incredible contributions, so I decided to make sure I had a budget to pay talent as soon as I possibly could.

I was very fortunate when in 2019, Gibson (guitar), came to me and said they wanted to support the show. They have been our angel sponsor ever since and have nurtured the growth of L.A. WOMAN. The gratitude I feel for Gibson’s support is immeasurable!

Probably my biggest struggle comes from the fact that this is my passion and I’m so personally invested in it that I have to ride a lot of emotional ups and downs throughout the process. When I have doubts, I focus on the fact that I created this show on my own, out of nothing but a vision and it’s continued to grow.  Learning how to market and promote effectively and the tremendous energy that goes into promotion has been a definite challenge. But when it works and things start to flow, it feels fantastic.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a live event and live entertainment creator and producer. I think there are a few things that set my work apart: I have a very keen gut instinct for knowing which performers are going to connect with the audience and really hit people at their emotional core; I am very skilled at marrying the big picture with every small detail in order to achieve the overall creative vision. This is in part a gift but also a skill that I’ve strengthened by working as a producer for many years; And probably what I hear most from my clients and the artists I work with is how much they appreciate my extreme professionalism and that they really enjoy working with me. Getting to work with people who inspire me is a great gift! You really do get back the energy you put into something, but that’s especially true of creative work.

What I’m most proud of is that with L.A. WOMAN All Femme Revue, I’ve created something that allows me to realize my true purpose on this earth. When I’m in that room during the show, absorbing the energy of the audience responding to the performances and witnessing the visceral power of the show, there’s no greater feeling. It’s out of this world!

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska which usually takes people by surprise. I’ve been in L.A. for over two decades, but my formative years were in Alaska. Anchorage actually had a thriving performing arts scene. Tons of touring companies came through town and I was very devoted to acting, musical theater and piano. Just having those opportunities and exposure obviously had a big impact on my path in life. I also spent my first several years in L.A. working on the business side of the music and film industries, which, in hindsight, I realize built a LOT of strength and endurance.

Pricing:

• Early bird ticket – $20
• Show ticket – $25
• VIP packages start at $45

Contact Info:

• Website: lawomanshow.eventbrite.com
• Instagram: @lawomanshow

• Youtube: https://youtu.be/Xexh6aLUfQs