Meet Todd Stashwick | Actor, Writer, Entrepeneur, Dungeon Master, Half Elf Sorcerer, Scoundrel

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

Hi Todd, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started the Nerd Circus, it came from a place of sharing something deep and meaningful to me. Where my passion for imagination is rooted. I’m a child of the 70s and 80s. So much of my play grows from those influences. Playing dungeons and Dragons in basements, with wood panelled walls and orange shag carpet. We would be spinning Styx records on the Hi-Fi, rolling dice, slaying goblins. We drank our Dr. Pepper out of the Burger King Star Wars Glasses. I wanted to distill that vibe and present ways for folks to share in that. It’s groovy, whimsical and trippy fun.

When the lockdown hit in 2020, I had idle hands that need to be filled with a project. Being inspired by other actor friends who had created niche merchandise online shops, I thought that it’s the perfect time to scratch this itch. From there, the Nerd Circus was born.

I then used the website to sell different products, groovy wares and nerdy paraphernalia. One big one was a colaboration done with former Disney Imagineer, Brandon Kleyla. We decided to wondertwin our talents. He is an art director and a master of all things Tiki. I know D&D and am a fantasy storyteller. So we found a natural marriage between the two. We crafted a kickstarter campaign to create Mystic Libations: Critical Cocktails for the Thirsty Adventurer. A Dungeons and Dragons Inspired cocktail book and gaming resource. Filled with art and stories. Over 100 tiki cocktail drinks and even a playable D&D adventure at the back. It grew pout of us having to play D&D online, so wee started making cocktail recipes so all the players would feel connected while we were in quarantine. It was such a wonderful experience. We worked with many talented artists and an amazing mixologist named Roy Hanzal that created the recipes. It such a rewarding experience.

What’s important to me is Play. Play of all kinds is essential. It is the meaning of life. To me, it is why we exist. It’s why some of us toil at jobs, clothe and feed ourselves so we can get to that time when all our “tasks” are completed and we can finally do the things that make our hearts sing. That celebrate our consciousness. The philosopher Alan Watts puts it in a great way.

“The physical universe is basically playful. There’s no necessity for it whatsoever. It isn’t going anywhere; that is to say, it doesn’t have a destination that it ought to arrive at.” — Alan Watts

I created Nerd Circus to celebrate play.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have had a wonderful crooked road of a career that has taken on many different incarnations. From nerd boy in the midwest playing with his Mego Star Trek action figures in the 70s, to decades later, being an actual Starfleet Captain is a lesson in sticking with it. I always allowed my joy to fuel my ambition. It was never a clamor for fame and recognition. It was carving a life that was dominated by play. The play of performing, the play of storytelling, the play of creation. I have always pointed my arrow towards what makes my heart happiest. Celebrating the kinds of stories and characters I enjoyed. It started with making my own shows in my garage for the neighborhood kids. Then school plays, college theater. As kid of the 70s and 80s I was a child of Lucas and Speilberg, of Tolkein, Gaiman and Gygax. The Beatles and Styx. I loved the comedy of SNL, Bill Murray loomed large. You take all of those disparate influences and let them dance in my soul, how they harmonize with each other, create new notes. I work to bring new entertainment to the world through, acting, writing, role playing games etc. Trying to elicit the level of joy I got and get from that kaleidoscope of consumed movies, music, literature and art that live in my subconscious, it can’t help but be unique to me. Someone smarter than I, maybe it was Elvis Costello, said, “We spend our time trying be our heroes…How we F$%K up is our voice.”

I just stuck with it. Balancing ambition with the joy of doing. Training is paramount. Risking failure. Theater school and staying in classes after college. Always refining my craft, failing, getting better, working hard to put my work in front of people that could move me to the next level. From Second City and the chicago improv scene. forward. All the while having my own personal projects going. Thetare companies, improv groups, writing comic books, cocktail books, creating an improv school, creating the Nerd Circus. Always leaning hard into what turns me on artistically. Keep making things. So that I’m not solely relying on “The industry” for my artistic satisfaction.

I have bloodied my knuckles knocking on the front door of “the industry”, only to find my way to the back, sometimes smashing a hole in their wall to try and get in. Then It dawned on me, that it would be far more rewarding (but a lot more work) to just build my own building, and work with the people I want, making the things that I want. Once realize (and be ok with) that you are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and there will always be folks who don’t like what you are making you will be better off. Just create things you personally want to see in the world. The world is big and you will find that there are many who want to enjoy what you are making.

For me there is no alternative. As far as I know, I only get this one life. The only rejection I couldn’t live with is me rejecting my passions. It takes energy, humilty and collaboration. You can’t do it alone. Invite like minded souls to help, to advise, to fill in your deficits. Ask questions. Be bold. Love the thing your making and don’t do it for the money. The money is good, but the passion must be the focus. You have to know that you would be doing it anyway, because you want that art in the world.

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 am a Los Angelino, Chicago transplant, and i love it here.

The places I take people.

Food: Salsa and Beer- The best mexican in the city

Drink: The Tonga Hut (oldest Tiki Bar in Los angeles)

Drink: Idle Hour – a fun community pub with a great kitschy outdoor area with the Bulldog Cafe from the Rocketeer.

Entertainment: The Greek Theater – Rock to your favorite band in this venue in the hills, under the stars.

A moonlit night Drive on Mulholland, where you can see the lights of both Hollywood and the valley on either side.

Venice Beach for Sun, Surf and empanadas.

Brunch: Aroma Cafe in Noho. Intimate and tasty.

The Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon. It is an outdoor eatery, set into the bucolic bohemian canyon. It feels like it was built by the Elves of Rivendell.

If you can catch Kristen Lynn and The Foxgloves at the Hotel Cafe you will have done your ears a favor.

And the Last Bookstore downtown. Has to be seen to be believed.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am but a cobbled together collection of my support and influences. I would be no where without the support of many. Let’s start with my parents, who fanned the flames of their nerdy, left of center child. They gave me a base to stand on. Joining in was a very important High School teacher, Kathy Wandro, who saw a spark in me. She shaped my early work as a young actor. Nurturing a set of skills that I would take with me to College and beyond. Then my improv teachers, namely Martin Demaat and Del Close. My improv collaborators in NYC, Kevin Scott, Matt Higgins, Jay Rhoderick, John Thies and Shira Piven. Then the acting and career guidance I received from Lesly Kahn in Los Angeles, is immeasurable. Amy Hennig, Terry Matalas and Gavin O’Connor are professional collaborators that have pushed me creatively and opened up bucket list opportunities. They took chances on me and I continue to enjoy working with them. My Manager and dear friend Meghan Schumacher has been a partner since the early 90s when we had a theatre company together. This list just scratches the surface bu the one constant that will always top the list is my wife Charity. She is an unwavering support system that none of my work is possible without her.

Website: www.thenerdcircus.com

Instagram: @tstashwick

Linkedin: Todd Stashwick

Twitter: @ToddStashwick

Facebook: Todd Stashwick

Image Credits
Gerard Sandoval