Meet Audrey Harden

We had the good fortune of connecting with Audrey Harden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Audrey, how do you think about risk?
My parents raised me to abide by Murphy’s law, so I can’t help but look at something from 360 degrees and play out all the ways it could go to shit, which sounds pretty negative but I swear it’s more about being open to all possibilities and outcomes. I also had sobering experiences early on in life that taught me how temporary and fleeting this journey is. I’ve always been rooted in our mortality even as a kid. With that understanding that our time here is limited, I’m looking at all the ways something can go wrong but I’m also dreaming about all the ways it could go right and face my fears head on. I’m a calculated bold risk taker (much to Murphy’s Law parents chagrin) I wouldn’t be an actor or have started my event design/corporate gifting business, endeavors that bring me immeasurable joy, without taking risks and going full send.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started Full Moon and Company during the pandemic with my friend and business partner Hayley. In my 20’s I was deep in the performance art scene in NY and site specific dance work, so I’ve always loved cultivating experiential activations, and building worlds. Starting an event design and corporate gifting company felt natural. Helping brands of all sizes communicate their ethos through all of the senses, dreaming up unusual ideas to make their events stand out is just fun for me. Has it been easy? No. Getting the word out is the hardest part. That, and getting others to quantify and value visual art in the corporate world. I also coach child actors, prepping them for auditions guiding them through the industry. As a child actor myself, beginning my professional career at 11, I understand how strange it can feel to navigate this industry. I never had a mentor when I was younger so being able to provide advice, be friend, and pass on all the things I’ve learned is very cool.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to the Beaudry Motorway Loop for a hike, then head to Frogtown to walk along the river, grab lunch at Salazars. Take Angie Shriner’s cardio horror dance class at Killer Fitness/she also used to teach a super fun nostalgic throwback dance class in Frogtown, I hope that comes back. We’d have to go to the Getty and see some art, views and gardens, grab martinis at Capri Club and then dinner at Night and Market or Ototo.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband Gabe Harden is a wildly talented DP, I love working with him always. He’s a grounding beacon of light on set, skilled with a camera, can build anything from scratch be it a chair, framing out a wall, or hand modeling clay into the Statue of David, he’s a renaissance man with zero ego. Angie Shriner is my writing partner and sparkly cosmic sounding board for a lot of my writing projects in development right now. We met in John Markland’s workshop in NY and she just moved to LA. Not only is her writing achingly beautiful and sharp she’s equally as talented a performer. John Markland is another bright light in what can feel like a very dimly lit industry, he’s really the person that first encouraged me to write my truth and play! He’s helped me find my confidence over and over again as a performer and I’m very grateful for his wisdom and friendship. Alex Henes is another writer/director in LA who has helped me find my voice. We met studying at Ithaca College many moons ago. We wrapped on his short film Man Of The House last October in LA which Gabe also DP-ed. Man Of The House is now making it’s festival rounds, catch us at Telluride Horror and Proof festival in LA. Alex is always reminding me of my magic and bringing it back to WHY we are doing what we are doing and encouraging me to MAKE THE THING and do it with courage. Scott Rodgers is another person who help validate my skills, I took his Idea to Outline writing class and it was a pivotal moment for me as a writer. Also shoutout to music and movement which are always there for me to come back to myself, amplify, ground and inspire.

Website: www.audreyharden.com, www.audreyhardencoaching.com, www.fullmoonstyle.com

Instagram: @oddladydre, @fullmoonandco

Image Credits
Emma Pilkington Mead