267: Louie Anderson - How To Crush It on Stage From One Of The Greatest Stand-Up Comedians Of All Time

Jul 22, 2018

Louie Anderson, veteran stand-up comedian, actor, and author with a 40+ year, Emmy-winning career. He explains how a structured catalog of material lets him improvise on stage. He talks about mining personal pain for comedy, scanning and surprising audiences, handling hecklers, and the grind of nightly reps that shaped his voice.

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INSIGHT

The Grind Is The Golden Part

The struggle and repetition of early work are the richest part of a career.
Louie urges performers to relish early failures and repeated reps because that's where learning and growth happen.

INSIGHT

Authenticity Sustains Excellence

Authenticity and a consistent voice are the foundation of sustained excellence.
Louie says performers who keep their unique voice never run out of material and connect more deeply with audiences.

ADVICE

Only Perform Material That Means Something

Do material that matters to you because the audience can tell if it doesn't mean anything.
Louie tells comics: if your jokes don't mean anything to you, they won't mean anything to the audience.

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#267: Louie Anderson - How To Crush It on Stage From One Of The Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time

Show Notes:

Louie's approach to stand up comedy -- It appears as if he is just "riffing off the cuff," however it is highly structured and prepared
The pain of growing up with an alcoholic dad and how that fueled him as a professional
- This helps him pull from any of it at anytimeCreating a catalog of material
- It takes years to develop
- "I'm in complete control." That gives Louie the ability to handle a heckler in the crowd or go with a comment and tell an additional joke
Going on Johnny Carson or Conan
- "They don't step on your lines, but they are prepared for where the conversation is going to go."
"Just like you, I've worked hard to create freedom with my work."
Sustaining excellence:
- "Be who you are"
- Ask yourself, "Does this mean something to you? If it doesn't mean something to you, why would it mean anything to someone else?"
- Confidence
Nervous before a performance?
- "It depends on the event and how much importance I put on it." -- Saturday Night Live was a nerve racking experience
Advice to keynote speakers?
- Be prepared
- Know your message
- Surprise the audience
- Piggy back on a great introduction -- Listen to the room prior to your time on stage
"I'm always tilling the ground for comedy bits."
Storytelling:
- "Tell them something they don't know. Humanize the story. Give a piece of yourself. Don't lecture."
How did he get his start as a comedian?
- "A dare. I was a social worker and went up on stage for an open mic night and it went great."
"I volunteered to be the emcee for experience."
- "Don't be afraid of trying new things"
- The importance of "getting the reps:" "I did seven nights a week, four shows per night. I was creating who I was."
"We don't see all the work that goes into being great on stage. It takes years and years of work."
- "You need good friends who will tell you the truth."
His mom's best advice: "Be nice to people. You never know what they're going through."
Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea
Use the "Get To Know You Document"

Social Media:

Follow Louie on Twitter: @LouieAnderson
Read: Hey Mom
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community
To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12