40 Lee Naimo Axis of Awesome

Axis of Awesome, reached youtube fame with their song “4 Chord Song” which has been viewed 80 million times but their journey began way before….Lee Naimo takes us back

The Axis of Awesome are The World’s Most Awesomest Comedy Band. They have blown audiences away around the world, including the prestigious invite-only Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and four sold out seasons at the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe. Their latest show received multiple 5-star reviews in it’s season at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2012, which they followed with their third tour of Sweden in as many years. They have also sold out seasons at the Adelaide Fringe and Cabaret Festivals, the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals, the Sydney Opera House, Perth Fringe World and the Singapore Flipside Festival. Their Four Chord Song is one of the highest rated comedy videos of all time on YouTube, and their YouTube videos have received over 80 million hits. They picked up the Time Out Award for Best Australian Act at the Sydney Comedy Festival, and they are also recipients of the prestigious Moosehead Award for their first ever Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, “The Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular”. Their most recent international tours took them to the USA and Europe, selling out shows from LA and New York to London and Berlin. Their latest music video “Rage of Thrones” has over 1 million hits on YouTube, and it’s pretty darned awesome.

LEE NAIMO

Australia
Name based on Axis of Evil, George Bush quote
Benny’s World of Warcraft Guild rejected the name
Eddie Murphy lookalike
Improv at University, met Jordan , Benny was playing music for the shows
Sketch group with Jordan. Benny playing the 4 chord song back then
Booked a gig and write 5 min of comedy. First year of mocking around
Election in Australia videos
7 1/2 years together
Edinburgh Fringe festival first year, ultimate goal, one guest bought our cd, put it on UK stations,
150 myspace friend requests, heard their song
Live comedy act! Clip for youtube fans
Comedian who can play guitar
Benny takes care of the music, Jordan and Lee the lyrics and comedy
180,000 subscribers on youtube
Touring America in 2011
Management Star 100 live bookings
Promoter in UK for England and Europe
End every show with “4 Chord Song”
Their show is for the fans…not reviewers!

COMING SOON: YOUTUBE WEBSERIES
-4-5 scripted sketches
-music videos
-stories within stories
-click on image, sketch appears

RAGE OF THRONES
-based on Benny´s frustration
-Everyone except Benny was obsessed with Game of Thrones while touring USA
-director thought Lee would be best as Daenerys

CHALLENGE
-hard to leave family/friends behind while touring

LESSONS
-Limited amount of time for touring, do not neglect Australian fans/festivals..leave them wanting more!
-Twitter/Instagram update all the time….facebook limited!

BEST ADVICE
“Don´t fuck it up” (his mom before the interview)

ADVICE:
Get on stage!
Don´t feel like you have to be risque, talking about rape, pedophile, you´re not Louis C.K, wait until you do 30 years

Don´t just e-mail, go there every week and support the venue and talk to the owners, other comedians

BEST GIG: sold 600 seat theatre in Sweden, had a comedy special. Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Morton (Raw comedy in sweden), their agent Olly met Morton took him to the show and booked them!

Gibson Ampitheatre in LA for 6,000, received standing ovation from guests like Ray Romano and Jimmy Kimmel

WORST GIG: Edinburgh, only 3 guys, 20 min in, one guy left “This is not for me”, another fell asleep and the third one kept trying to wake him up.

RESOURCES
Rhymezone
www.rhymezone.com

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