January 31, 2008
Everything you always wanted to know about becoming a stand-up comic: an
interview with Leighann Lord
According to last week's poll, most of us laugh everyday, as often as we can.
And like you, The Three Tomatoes always love a good joke too. But sadly, we fall into that category of joke tellers
who half way through the joke forget the ending, or realize we've already screwed up the beginning, and at the end of our story we find ourselves
facing a group of people with that "what the heck was that" look on their faces. So we truly admire comics who can actually
get up on a stage, tell stories, and make us laugh. And to see a young woman comic up on stage, and one as funny as Leighann Lord, who had us rolling in the aisles at
our Broadway Comedy
Event, is such a delight, that we had to find out more. Like, how do you become a stand up comic? So earlier this week,
we had a great conversation, and a somewhat serious one too, with Leighann.
But first, a word from your sponsor, which this week would be us.
There's been so much going on with The Three Tomatoes of late that we can barely keep up. So we can hardly expect you to keep up with
all that's happening, now can we? So read our side bar for a quick recap on our book club, plus check out new articles from
our experts listed in our
side bar too. And we're delighted to say we've just added Dr. Doree Lynn (FiftyandFurthermore), who is a noted "sexpert". You'll love her series on sex over fifty. (And yes Virignia, it still
exists.)
A Serious Conversation with a very funny lady
Leighann Lord started using humor way back in the sixth grade. You see she was the smartest kid in the class,
and was tired of getting picked on by the other kids. So she started using humor to win them over. Which proves at
least one of our life assumptions right, which is that comics, especially stand-ups, have to be really smart to be funny, and are way smarter than
most actors and actresses. Not to disparage them, but after all, they are reading someone else's script.
And while we're talking about the not so smart ones, don't you just wish they'd stay out of "bigger conversations" that they really know
nothing about? Like, politics, the environment, and why we shouldn't be wearing our fur coats. And do we really
care what they think? But we digress. Back to Leighann.
From banker to comic
So, Leighann went on to Baruch College, where she discovered her love of
theater. And she was still keeping her classmates laughing. So she graduated, and did what seemed the smart
thing. She went to work for a big bank in their corporate communications group. And as she says, there's
nothing better than making you realize what you really want to do in life, more than doing something you actually hate. As
she put it, she realized no one was going to come along and "rescue" her. So, she kept her day job, but got back into performing.
Although she does say her boss at the bank was very supportive, especially when she had to sneak out for auditions.
She started playing various clubs in the city; got some gigs out of town, and three years later quit her day job and turned
professional. That was fifteen years ago. She performs stand-up all over the country, has appeared on
The View, and many, many times on Comedy Central, and HBO's "Girls Night
Out." She also acts and does a lot of commercials, writes, directs, and produces. She
writes every day, and carries a note pad around to jot down an idea, because as she says "ideas are jealous", and if you don't grab 'em they'll move
on elsewhere. As we said, this a funny smart lady. Oh and by the way, her husband, Jim Mendrinos, is also a comic and the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Comedy
Writing. (You see there is an Idiot's guide to just about everything.) They've been married for six years, and still make
each other laugh every day.
The Boys Club
We talked about the fact that while there are more women today in stand-up, it's
still a boys club. At most comedy clubs, there will always be at least twice as many guy comics as women, but the progressive comedy clubs, are
pushing for more female comics. Leighann loves performing for women audiences, like our recent event, and
at women's colleges, because she says, women are much more open. They like seeing other women on stage. It's
rare, she says, to see a woman with her arms crossed and that "make me laugh" attitude. Women start out wanting you to
succeed.
What happens when you bomb?
Yes, she admits there are times when she's bombed, and that's when says to
herself, "I should have gone to law school." Whew! We're glad she didn't do that, and clearly the laughs have
way out-numbered the bombs.
Next stop The Tonight Show?
Her dream? To have her own sitcom.
Which maybe when we're all finally sick to death of reality TV, they'll be room again for smart shows that make us laugh.
And short term? Well, like every comic, she'd love to get on The Tonight Show.
So tomatoes, here's what we need to do. Send an email right now to Jay Leno, and tell him to check out Leighann Lord, who's
one very funny lady at www.veryfunnylady.com. It will be your good deed for the day, not to mention good Karma.
Here's to making your dreams come true and helping others achieve theirs to.
'til next week,
The Three Tomatoes
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