STAR SEARCH, DISNEY & LESLIE [EP. 131]

Leslie Norris Townsend lost her parents when she was in her teens. In order to support her three siblings, she started entering beauty pageants in hopes of bringing home a check. The awards also helped pay for college. The contests required her to do a "talent" which helped her develop her singing and innate ability to improvise. Those skills translated into a job with Disney. Her comedic chops in the Disney show got strong enough for her to tackle stand-up comedy. We cover a lot of ground in the interview including: How I first met Leslie How she auditioned for the Hoopty Do Review and beat out 9,996 others How that experience helped her write jokes without even knowing it Becoming great at auditioning Her experience with the Harvey Lembeck Improvisation Workshop  workshop Improvising with Jimmy Brogan, Jack Lemmon, Henry Wrinkler, Ray Liotta and Bryan Cranston! How Harvey Lembeck helped Leslie develop "The Miss America" character Her first time onstage at the Improv on Melrose How she prepared six comedy sets for her Star Search run How the other comedians wanted to "split the $100,000 prize money" before the finals even occur Why you should take risks and put yourself out there How she ended up cashing in $100,000 twenty years later and much more. Leslie Norris Townsend Leslie brings the humorous, human, experience and audience participation, to a perfect blend by creating a show that moves its listeners from tears to laughter, while motivating, mesmerizing and ultimately captivating each one. Taking many into hysterics! Leslie is the producer and host of her own regionally successful, televised, talent shows: Dream Big, & Wish Upon A Song. Visit Leslie Norris Townsend at http://www.funnyleslie.com   To find out when stand-up comedy classes are being offered in Nashville, TN  visit:   http://www.schooloflaughs.com/upcoming-live-classes/     If you want to take the class online ... now is a great time to grab this huge coupon below! Enter the code BETTERCOMEDY at checkout!  Don't want a class, but would like some coaching and accountability?   CLUB 52 IS THE ONLY WEEKLY PROGRAM DESIGNED 100% FOR COMEDIANS! "Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more. The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level. Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.