Meet Dan Balcaban | Producer & Story teller

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

Hi Dan, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has been a part of my life since I was a teenager growing up in Australia in a single-parent household. Just surviving paycheck to paycheck was a kind of risk — one we didn’t choose, but had to navigate daily. My brother and I worked minimum wage jobs and supported each other through that uncertainty. So I learned early on that risk wasn’t optional — it was how you moved forward.

I’ve always had a dive-in-headfirst approach. Figure it out later. And while I’ve gotten more methodical with time — taking longer to evaluate and plan — risk still plays a central role in my decisions. The difference now is that it’s less about fear and more about curiosity. I treat it like an experiment. Let’s try this and see what happens.

One of the biggest leaps I ever took was moving to LA with just $1000 to my name. On paper, that’s reckless. But I felt this blind hope that if I showed up honestly — if I shared who I really was and didn’t hide my circumstances — the kindness of community would catch me. And it did. That was a turning point.

That same energy shows up in performances, creative projects, business decisions. But I’ve also come to respect that risk needs reflection. These days I track my choices, I journal, I revisit decisions so I can learn — not just leap. Because while risk opens doors, how you grow from it determines how many you’ll get to walk through.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a performer, creator, and joyful experimenter at heart. Whether I’m acting, filmmaking, singing, doing stand-up, or sketch writing — or more recently, learning guitar basics just for the fun of it — my creative life is driven by curiosity. I’ve always had a hunger to explore art in all forms, and that includes connecting with others through hosting, producing, and building spaces where community and creativity meet.

Lately, I’ve been developing a few business and nonprofit ideas that bring communities together — blending performance, storytelling, and event creation under one umbrella. For me, it’s not just about the art I make, but the spaces I help co-create where people feel seen, celebrated, and connected.

What I’m most proud of? That I don’t stop experimenting. I tried living without creative expression once, and I felt completely lost — like my existence had no texture. So I keep playing, keep creating. It’s not about perfection. It’s about momentum, joy, purpose.

None of it’s been easy. I’ve moved countries multiple times and had to start from scratch with each leap — new networks, new culture, new industry dynamics. But art has always been the throughline. Creativity has been the home I carry with me.

Every time I create — whether it’s writing an idea down, drawing something, or just improvising with someone — I feel uplifted. It brings me back to myself. And when I don’t create? It’s like the soul gets quiet in the worst way.

I’ve learned that resilience in creativity isn’t just about pushing through. It’s about playing your way forward. Staying curious. Finding your people. And creating, even in the cracks.

If there’s one thing I’d want the world to know about me or my work — it’s that everything I do is rooted in the belief that we can build something beautiful when we stay open, when we stay weird, and when we stay connected.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit, I wouldn’t just show them around — I’d curate a week of creativity, connection, and a little chaos in all the best ways.

We’d kick things off in LA’s comedy scene — a triple hit of The Groundlings, UCB, and a wild night at The Comedy Store. There’s something sacred about belly laughs in a black box theatre with a bunch of strangers. And of course, I’d sneak us into an improv jam so they can see me at my weirdest.

After that, we’d go full musical mode — catch a show at the Pantages Theatre or Hollywood Bowl, maybe even a fringe performance in a hidden theatre downtown. Bonus points if we belt show tunes on the drive home. (That’s mandatory, actually.)

The touristy stuff? We’ll hit it — Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Park, the Hollywood sign — but with running commentary and dramatic reenactments of movie scenes, obviously.

Then: road trip time.
Santa Barbara for wine, waves, and a breezy afternoon that feels like a rom-com montage.
Ojai for spiritual recharging — tarot cards, meditation gardens, and the best low-key food spots that double as healing centers.
And maybe even a drive to San Luis Obispo, one of the calmest and most creative corners of the state. Somewhere we can sketch, write, or just be.

At night?
A bonfire jam on the beach.
Open mic magic.
A secret jazz club or immersive theatre experience.
We’d mix the soulful with the silly — because that’s where the good stuff lives.

And of course, I’d drag them to a random community theatre musical just for the charm. Because no trip is complete without supporting passionate people singing their hearts out under mismatched stage lights.

The goal wouldn’t be to “do it all” — just to experience something real, weird, joyful, and inspiring. That’s my kind of tour.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely. I want to first thank Amairany Solano, Chris Nelson, and Nik Jermaine for recommending me to this platform. I had the joy of working with them on their original audio drama Mortuus Est: Origins, where I played Aldrich Shaw. We had such a blast in the studio. They’re incredibly talented writers and producers — collaborating with them lit a creative spark in me that still burns.

A huge shoutout to Vipassana 10-day silent retreats — those experiences taught me calmness, something I never knew I needed until I truly sat with myself.
And thank you to my younger brother Alex, who introduced me to lucid dreaming years ago — that one tip started a lifelong practice of writing my dreams down every morning. It’s helped shape how I think, create, and even live.

To my younger sister Derestia — your love, motivation, and courage inspire me constantly. You’ve always been a safe space and a powerful sounding board, and I’m so grateful for that.

Scott Duncan, my friend, mentor, and executive producer — I’m honestly tearing up just mentioning him. He’s always made time for me. No matter how wild or weird my ideas are, he listens, supports, and challenges me to dig deeper.

To my older brother Paul, thank you for expanding my imagination as a kid. We made radio shows, theatre for dinner guests, and played the funniest games — for some reason, I was always the bad guy. You helped shape the performer in me from the start.

And to my wife Hina — thank you for your endless patience and support as I chase all these dreams (and sing all these silly songs around the house). You’re my grounding force and my cheerleader.

Lastly, a shoutout to every creative out there who hasn’t given up. Our species has weathered so many storms, and yet the arts continue to hold us together. So keep going. Keep creating. You are the inspiration the world needs.

Website: https://linktr.ee/DanBalcaban

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danbalcaban

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbalcaban/

Other: https://www.danbalcaban.com