Humorist Jeanne Robertson returns to the Gallo Center

Going viral for most folks brings a brief flash of celebrity. For Jeanne Robertson, it prompted a career change.

The North Carolina native had spent more than 50 years as a professional convention speaker, successfully entertaining thousands at private conferences across the country each year. But about six years ago, a snippet from one of her talks was uploaded to YouTube and since has received some 30 million views. The success prompted Robertson to begin headlining her own shows at theaters and other public venues.

“After (the YouTube) clip, people started calling and asking when is Jeanne’s show coming to town. My assistant would say, ‘You don’t understand; she has been there five times already this year. But for conventions,’ ” Robertson said from her home in North Carolina. “I’d only ever marketed myself to meeting and convention planners. Here I am opening new doors at 72. It’s hard to believe someone could have this much fun at this age.”

Robertson returns to Gallo Center for the Arts on Sunday, Nov. 22. She last performed at the downtown Modesto arts venue in 2013. The professional speaker and self-described humorist has a touring schedule that is now 50 percent conventions and 50 percent theatrical shows.

The past president of the National Speakers Association said the difference between a comedian and a humorist is subtle, but important.

“Well, they are cousins; they’re in the same family. The comedians’ goal is to get the audience laughing hard most of the time they’re on stage. A humorist also wants them to laugh just as long, just as hard. But hopefully we work in a little message, too. That might just be a reminder to look for the humor in every day,” she said.

Both her theater and convention shows are decidedly G-rated, accessible to those young and old alike. Besides her busy touring schedule, Robertson also has a show that airs daily on SiriusXM satellite radio.

“Bring your mama, your grandmama and your teenagers, and there will not have to be any explaining,” she promised.

The former Miss North Carolina started her speaking career during her pageant days. That year she recalls giving some 500 speeches, and she also discovered she could make people laugh from the stage. She soon found she had a knack for finding new material.

“If you just live life, watch and keep your eyes and ears open, it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “I realized how stressed out everyone is. But I’m really not; I’m looking for humor. So when they cancel a flight, I just move near a crowd and listen.”

Robertson also makes a habit of going into the lobby to speak with attendees before and after her appearances, for both her convention and theatrical shows, though her accessibility isn’t purely altruistic. She said meeting new people is another avenue for finding new material.

And she encourages all of her audiences to share their own stories with each other, too.

“I always say, you can’t take it with you. That’s true too when it comes to stories, especially family stories that are fun,” she said. “(But) if you don’t record them or tell them a lot, you do take them with you.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Humorist Jeanne Robertson returns to the Gallo Center."