Please tell us about your brand of comedy- what can audiences expect?
Liz Miele
I tell mostly cat jokes ha ha ha. I dunno, I'm observational in a sense. I look at my behavior and feelings about things in my life and reflect on why I reacted or felt a certain way. It's personal yet relatable. I talk about traveling, getting older and trying to be an adult, dating, my family and mental issues and of course cats!
Which comedians have been your biggest influence since you decide this was your path?
Wanda Sykes, George Carlin, and Dave Chappelle. Those three comics influenced how I do comedy, what I find funny and how to go about being a professional comedian. Still love all three of them and they still influence me to this day.
What random things make you laugh in everyday life?
Kids being excited to ride public transportation while everyone looks miserable, cats attacking inanimate objects, things going wrong in my life (cause it happens so much it's truly funny at this point).
Please tell us about your best and worst moment on stage so far.
Being specific is hard. There's too many shows. Honestly anytime a new joke goes well it's the best feeling and the reason I still do this after 14 years. Worst is when I'm not given a fair shot because of the way I look or an audience preconceived notions about me.
Do you still get nervous when you do a gig?
Nope. Honestly, I've been doing comedy for so long and do it almost nightly that anything bad that could happen during a set pretty much has happened and there isn't much to be nervous or scared about anymore.
Why is Edinburgh Fringe Festival such a great platform for comedians?
It gives us an outlet to do our hour a lot in a short amount of time for a diverse room of people. It's like a gym or lab. There's nothing else like it.
Who are you looking forward to seeing as an audience member?
Orlando Baxter, Pete Johansson, Will Duggan, Alfie Brown, Andrea Hubet, John Hastings and so many more. There are so many good comics here!
What is your advice to aspiring comedians?
Watch a lot of comedy (live and TV), write everything down. Don't judge the thought or search for the funny. If your curious or confused or mad whatever the thought or feeling, write it down. Read a lot and read different stuff... novels, articles, blogs, bios, and most importantly...live a full life. Meet new people, do new things, hang out with friends outside of comedy. Be a person. That's where material comes from, not writing alone in a cafe.
What is the oddest heckle you've ever received?
God, there are so many. I had a guy yell out "I don't get it" after the laughter from the audience died down and that was the best. Like I think he meant to just say it to his friend but mistimed the surrounding noise and it became a fun back and forth.
What is next for you?
I'm hoping to record this hour I'm doing in Edinburgh when I get home to the states and release it in the winter. Also working on a short film, finishing writing a TV pilot and writing an anti-romantic comedy.
Liz Miele, Mind Over Melee, Underbelly, Delhi Belly, 6.40pm
Tagged in Wanda Sykes Edinburgh Festival Fringe