How to be Awesome: an interview with Lou Sanders

How to be Awesome: an interview with Lou Sanders

27 July, 2011
by: Emma

Emma McAlpine chats to Fringe newcomer Lou Sanders.

Described by her friends as "a mixture between a young Steve Martin and a nine year-old girl having a midlife crisis", newcomer Lou Sanders hits the Edinburgh Fringe this year with her first solo show. The BBC3 star will be anwering all of life's great questions along with video sketches, interviews and a destiny wheel. I chatted to her about her former job in TV, falling off stages and arguing with Great Danes...

Hi Lou. What has been the highlight of your day so far?

Not much has been going on today but I sure enjoyed the double espresso I had earlier. I’ve just got into coffee and it makes me feel like a real continental adult. I’m filming for a pilot later this evening though so that should be good. That has to be the highlight as I really like the other people in it. And they have food.

You're taking your first solo show to Edinburgh next month. What are you most looking forward to and what are you most dreading?

I think gigging every day will be awesome because you learn so much, and I’m looking forward to hanging out with some A1 dudes. I’m just dreading the usual stuff people dread: reviewers coming in on a bad day and the thought of small audiences (who hate you). Golly, I’ve darked myself out now.

Your show is called How to Be Awesome. I've been feeling a little unimpressive recently – can you give me some tips?

Yes I can. The most important tip is come to the show.

I heard you tried to hire a Great Dane for the show – what happened?

We had a row. The dog got above his station.

Tell us a surprising fact about yourself.

I have never been a bigamist. I passed my French GCSE when I was 10. I have the break dancing skills of someone who has been to at least one break dancing class.

What did you do before you got into stand-up?

I worked in TV for a bit, developing shows.  Sometimes when you think to yourself “why is this RUBBISH on TV?” I’d be the person pitching something worse...

Can you pinpoint the moment you knew you wanted to be a comedian?

When I realised how bad at everything else I was.  It’s a fall-back position.

 If you could go back in time and give yourself some advice when you were starting out on the comedy circuit what would you tell yourself?

Don’t listen to anyone about what you should be doing – relax and find your own style. Also, mind not to fall off the stage in Nottingham.  Also, don’t cop off with any comics. 

Lou Sanders: How to be Awesome, An Introduction is at the Gilded Balloon from
3 - 29 August, at 5pm.

Photo credit: Jenny Hardcore
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Emma