As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Olivia Hill. Funny, animated, with the dialogue that would make your favorite sailor smile, Olivia has been featured on Buzzfeed, The CW, and Syfy. The Los Angeles, CA native shares some of their favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how they always own the laughs.
Name: Olivia Hill
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Tik-Tok: @FreeSampleOlivia/@FreeSampleLiv/@FreeSampleOlivia
Years in Comedy: I started yesterday. (Laughs)
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Buzzfeed, The CW, & SyFy
Comedic Influences: Chelsea Handler, Ali Wong, & Maria Bamford
Favorite Comedy Special: John Mulaney “Kid Gorgeous at Radio City”
Favorite Comedy Movie: The House Bunny
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Arrested Development
Favorite Comedic Character: GOB
Favorite City to Perform In: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: You’ll have to come to see to find out! (Mainly myself.)
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: When every single person wants to be there and nobody is there just to appease their significant other.
Favorite Comedy Club: The Westside Comedy Theater
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
Many evenings and nights were spent watching Comedy Central as a teenager.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I thought you had to be perfect, so I prepared a pretty tight five-minute set and rehearsed a ton; it paid off.
How would you describe your comedic style:
I’m both thrilled and angry to be here talking about these trivial things in such great detail.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
A lot of jokes come to me while I’m on runs! I’ve learned from many lost ideas that you have to text it to yourself or put it in a Notes app the second you think of it. I rarely remember anything later.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
There’s a never-ending supply. If you throw a rock out your window, you will probably hit the comedy show your neighbor is running in their courtyard.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I’ll know I’ve made it when I’m rushed to Cedars-Sinai.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
My brain does this odd thing where it completely wipes my worst performances; it’s probably a defense mechanism from my higher powers to keep me going.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
By laughing.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
There are highs and lows, and when you’re in the lows, there is a real moment where you question whether you should just put it to rest, but if you can push past that and get up a few more times, you’ll be feeling back on top and then that God Complex will kick in until you find your wax wings melting and you’re flailing downwards again. It’s really fun, and I’ve been reminded that progress is not linear.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Liv Live
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I don’t know about the funniest, but I met Kendra Wilkinson once, and she is the nicest celebrity I’ve ever met. It was at her book signing, and she genuinely struck up and continued a conversation with me even though there were tons of people in line, and her team was probably like, “You need to wrap this up!” Even I was a bit hesitant to keep talking, but she took a genuine interest in a college radio show I was producing, and that moment really impacted me.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
A Burning Man-esque warehouse party that was not expecting stand-up sets.
An Olivia Hill Fun Fact:
I can put my whole fist in my mouth.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I want to make impactful and intentional (and hilarious) television (or whatever the following form of mass media is) for children and women.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Take the second to pause in your set and hear the laughter rather than railing into your next joke.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
It’s constantly changing based on society and the younger generations, so it’s anyone’s best guess, but I like that it is becoming more and more inclusive and thus more and more unique.
What’s next for you:
I wish I were at liberty to say.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because smile and laughter are more forgiving to the longevity of a face–AKA you’ll need less botox from someone who’s constantly scowling and furrowing their brows in frustration. xo
Watch Olivia Hill’s comedy reel:
Follow Olivia Hill’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @FreeSampleOlivia/@FreeSampleLiv/@FreeSampleOlivia
Youtube: Olivia Hill
Personal Website: www.freesampleolivia.com
