When it comes to comedy, Greg Warren checks a lot of boxes. He has worked around the country on main stages, he has performed on national television and his always sold-out local gigs have made him an StL favorite. Like most comedians, Warren infuses his work with his own story and experiences, which those who have taken in his show will learn, laugh at and appreciate.
How have you woven your roots into your comedy?
When you start doing stand-up, honestly, you just sort of suck for the first seven or eight years. You’re just trying to figure out what to do. I learned that if everyone is going to make a joke about the same thing, mine is probably not going to be in the top 10%. I started looking for how to separate myself from the pack. I’ve had a lot of experiences other comedians haven’t. My dad was my wrestling coach in high school, I played clarinet in the band, and I went to West Point for my first year of college—what if I talked about that? Being biographical is what started working for me.
What were some of the jobs you had before you decided you were going to give comedy a chance?
I was a peanut butter man. I sold JIF Peanut Butter.
Did you sell more creamy or crunchy?
Going on the data, it’s four to one creamy versus crunchy. These are 1999 numbers—I don’t get the reports anymore—but I bet it’s the same.
Who were some of the people who inspired you?
I never watched much stand-up growing up. I saw Bob Hope at The Muny one time. I do remember I was going to a big national tournament in Iowa one time, and my friend had an Eddie Murphy cassette tape and a Walkman. I listened to that thing, and just the way he did characters, I couldn’t believe it. If you knew me at that period in my life, you were annoyed with how times I went around doing Eddie Murphy routines. Then my uncle gave me The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, and he’s been a big influence on my style.
What about your contemporaries?
Kathleen Madigan is a great comic from St. Louis who was really good to me early in my career and helped me out a lot. She’s fantastic—it’s nice to see someone from St. Louis killing it. Mitch Hedberg is one of my favorite comics. That guy was doing stuff that nobody else was. Nate Bargatze has done so much for my career in recent years, so it will sound like I’m sucking up, but there’s nobody better right now. I’ve got to open for him in arenas in front of 20,000 people. It’s hard to be around a guy like that and not be inspired or influenced a little bit.
Other than St. Louis, best places in the country to work?
It depends on the comedy club. Bloomington, Indiana, has one of the best. I’ve worked in Columbus, Ohio, for years. Two months ago, I opened for Nate in Kansas City. I had the home field advantage, and I had the set of my life. Now, I’ve sold out 13 shows later this month in K.C.
