Today we’d like to introduce you to Peppur Chambers.
Peppur, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After nearly fifteen years in Los Angeles, I am a new transplant to Chandler. I’ve spent my career writing, producing, directing, and performing in theater and film… both in LA, New York, and overseas in Prague.
I’m the founder of the Brown Betties, a women’s empowerment lifestyle brand where I teach workshops to women on how to be sultry, sassy, and sophisticated (all the things I learned to be over the years!) “The Brown Betties” originated as the star characters in my 1940s dinner-theater burlesque show I produced for almost ten years, “Harlem’s Night: A Cabaret Story”. They are also featured in my novel, “Harlem’s Awakening” (available on Amazon and published by Spaceboy Books).
Brown Betties and Harlem’s Night have been my life’s work, it seems! I went to Marquette University for Advertising & Marketing and was a record-holding track athlete. When I graduated, I had dreams to be in entertainment but went into mutual funds marketing because, you know, a girl’s gotta eat. When I did leave corporate, I danced as a Chicago Bulls Luv-A-Bulls dancer and also for the Milwaukee Bucks Energee teams. In my heart, I just knew that these stages would catapult me to a life of fame, fortune, and excitement, just like Paula Abdul. That didn’t happen exactly! Still, not deterred, I moved to New York where I started to sing and act. As a singer, I wrote the songs that would later appear in Harlem’s Night Cabaret. Becoming a trained actor prepared me to take the stage in the show I created where I was able to sing, dance, and act. Producing the show and building the brand in Los Angeles was truly full of major ups and downs, but it was also something I knew I had to do if I wanted “to make it”.
What’s interesting about this idea of “making it” is that it is truly subjective. Each one of us can relate to having some sort of dream, goal, or aspiration about our lives, whether that’s to run a company, write a book, compete in a marathon or learn to play the piano. The bar we set for ourselves is within our control and it should be. Over the years, I’ve learned that measuring my success against the red carpet others stand upon is not helpful! It ain’t good for the soul and it ain’t good for the mind! I still work on this process of defining success because, to be honest, I do want to stand on the red carpet. I love the spotlight! I love glamour! However, I must also know that that type of validation is not the ultimate signal for success. Keeping going is.
As I transition to living in Chandler, I’m excited to find the theater scene here and to participate as a writer/director when I can. I’m also excited to get my second novel published, Harlem’s Last Dance, which is a follow-up to Harlem’s Awakening. I’ve also started a copywriting, ghostwriting, and editing business, Pen and Peppur, where I help other writers make their dreams come true.
I still have ties to LA with my plays, radio plays, and a short film I’m working on. My (awesome) husband’s job is also located there and we travel back and forth. I’m really enjoying being in this new environment and getting to be near my family who has now lived here for several years. My husband and I also recently renovated our home and I truly enjoyed having our own HGTV moments while working with local designer Ashley Ostrander of Authentic Design Studio, artist Valeria Zavala and contractor Cody of A-1 Home Repair among many other players. I swear, getting the house done was just like producing theater and putting on an incredible production. I just loved our “cast!”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Going after what you want always involves a struggle. And that’s not a bad thing. I think facing and overcoming challenges helps you to grow in ways you would probably not encounter had you not taken the leap to go for what you want.
With me, my challenges were in trying to produce on my own dime, having a big vision with little resources, and perhaps not knowing when to say when. I don’t like to take ‘no’ for an answer and sometimes, that ‘no’ makes me work harder — but not necessarily smarter. I like being driven — yet, I’m learning that it doesn’t make sense to struggle so much to make something happen. For example, when producing the show, I would often temp for something like $10 or $15/hour and then all the money I made (had left over after trying to pay rent), went into the show. This is great, but was it the most effective way to produce? I eventually had to go after money and bigger dollars, but I know that my strength is as a creative, not as a money person. Sometimes I wish I had aligned myself with someone who possessed the skills I did not, and released the reins a bit. I say all of this as a teaching moment, while also trying to not beat myself up for succeeding via the path that was “easiest” for me. These lessons helped me to know my ‘no’ and have also inspired me to write a self-help book on the topic so others (especially women) can learn the same.
Honestly, I think we all can relate to this concept of how we work through challenges. Do we attack, attack, attack until we are exhausted emotionally, mentally, and physically, or do some of us avoid the challenge completely and skirt around it to avoid conflict and pain, or do we turn on our heels in the opposite direction allowing the challenge to overpower the trajectory of our desires? It’s really interesting!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Since my name is Peppur, I’m known as The Hot One. I love that! A friend gave me that title years ago and I find it helps to remind me to be passionate in all that I do.
I am an entertainment professional and my business cards and email signature say, “Writer, Producer, and Educator”. (I hired a brand strategist a few years ago to help me whittle down my tagline!) At my core, I am a writer – novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. I direct theatre and film and as an educator, I teach workshops on women’s empowerment, creative writing, and inspiration. I also taught drama and journalism while living in Prague and would enjoy teaching again. I speak to college-age students on their career journey and adults on finding their passion. I also write my blog at www.penandpeppur.com where I tell stories of heroes, including my own.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to live a life that encompasses all of me. Sometimes I’m on stage, sometimes I’m collaborating and connecting with others, sometimes I’m traveling to do these things and most of the time, I’m creating some type of content that I get to share. I feel very fortunate and as a result, love to encourage others to find and nurture this type of joy within themselves.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
This is a big question!
As a Black woman, I’m always looking for the big shifts, changes, and trends that are inclusive of me and others like me.
We need more of them.
We need more people of all backgrounds to open doors and lift others so that everyone may share in opportunities and resources and most importantly, be seen and heard.
I do my part by using my voice in my art to speak to social justice, equity (and love!); therefore, when included I can be a part of a shift where many different voices are heard in what is now a broad sea of similarity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.penandpeppur.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peppurthehotone/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/peppurthehotone
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbtcgwXZhtY
- Other: www.brownbetties.com
Image Credits
Nino Aphakidze
