Archives: Speakers

Bill Bushart has performed at the prestigious Odd Ball Comedy Fest at DTE, headlined Michigan’s Brew HaHa and LaughFest in Grand Rapids.

He’s worked with stand up greats Gilbert Gottfried, Mark Normand and ‪Roy Wood‬, Jr., among many others.

He’s a driving force in the Michigan stand up community and a performer at comedy clubs, theaters, bars, and bowling alleys, throughout the Midwest.

Bill was named Funniest Comic in Detroit by readers of the Metro Times and HOUR Detroit Named him Best of Detroit Stand Up (2019).

He has been featured on WDIV Channel 4, WRIF, Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.

“Best Bet!” – Detroit News

Comedian Alana Gonzalez has been making people laugh across the country anywhere a microphone can be found — in bars and clubs, over the air waves, and virtually — for over 20 years.

She possesses likable and relatable takes on the downsides of parenting, relationships, chivalry, and being a woman in today’s age. Her sarcasm and devilish wit are a hit with all types of audiences.

Tyler Nissen has been performing standup comedy for over 4 years, sharing the stage with nationally touring comedians such as Tony Hinchcliffe, Hans Kim, and Brian Redban – the co-creator of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Tyler was a finalist in the Jumpstart Your Career contest at Joey’s Comedy Club, a finalist in The Moth’s Detroit StorySLAM Competition, and recently a semi-finalist in Mark Ridley’s Detroit to LA competition. Tyler’s comedy consists of punch-filled observations joined with the perfect dollop of absurdity.

Born and raised in Detroit. Justin, fell in love with comedy at a young age. He followed his dream to New York City where he quickly worked his was up to comedy clubs throughout the state. Upon returning to Detroit, he was named Detroit Metro Times Best Comedian in 2021. He’s performed in the Windsor Comedy Festival: Next Best Comic Competition, Chatham Comedy Festival, and Vans Warped Tour. Justin’s Raw, no holds bar, observational comedy would be a blunder to miss

Bob Phillips saunters on stage wearing a black suit and black tie, a gentle smirk gracing his goateed face as he takes the microphone out of the stand.  He is cool, confident.

This guy is in charge and he knows what he is doing.

There are no sacred cows in Bob’s act, and there are no safe havens.  He covers a lot of ground, with a show that is a blend of observational, topical, political, and biographical material.  He talks about every day subjects, from his Catholic upbringing to growing up in the seventies and the absurdities of modern life.  He does so with wicked timing, intelligence and sarcasm.

Bob has been seen on the Fox stand-up comedy series “Laughs” and is heard daily on SiriusXM satellite radio’s Rawdog, Laughs USA, the The Foxxhole, Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup.  He is a contributing writer to the website “Funny or Die”, and is one half of the popular internet podcast, “The Sal & Bob Show.”  In addition, he has also appeared several times on the Anthony Cumia Show Featuring Dave Landau.

Bob has recorded three full length comedy CD’s.  “Live In Fargo,” “Pop Tarts and Air,” and the newly released, “Ten Dollar Gift Card.”  He performs at all the top clubs, theaters, and casinos around the country.  From Detroit to Las Vegas, from Fargo to Miami, and all points in between, Bob keeps a busy schedule.

Sometimes biting, sometimes endearing, but always in charge, Bob Phillips isn’t cynical.  But he is a smart aleck with a quick wit.  His show isn’t dirty, but it can be occasionally naughty, concentrating more on clever rather than crass.

Michael Cesaro is a fresh new comic who hails from Chesterfield, Michigan. After honing his skills at Mark Ridley’s comedy classes, Michael has been performing all around the Metro Detroit area. When he isn’t on stage you can find him in front of a classroom teaching high school social studies, or spending quality time with his wife and young children.

A Michigan native who cut his chops working the clubs, contests, dive bars, senior centers and ice cream socials of the 1990’s Detroit Comedy Scene.  He moved to LA with stars in his eyes and loose change in his pockets and soon found himself performing at some of the most legendary clubs in comedy like the Laugh Factory on the Sunset Strip.  He has opened for and worked with Comedy Central and Netflix stars Nate Bargatze, Shane Mauss, Chris Porter, and Alonzo Bodden.

After returning to the Midwest he was able to build on his experience from the West Coast and began to feature and headline some of regions biggest and most significant clubs like Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Detroit, MI, Helium in Buffalo, NY, and Crackers in Indianapolis, IN.

Now a staple on the Midwest club and festival circuit, he has been seen on “Laughs” on the Fox Network, was a regional finalist on National Lampoon’s “Comic Search”. Recently he was a featured performer at the prestigious “Brew Ha Ha” festival in front of a record crowd of over 1,500.

He also is the host of the weekly ” Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle Podcast” where he chats up the biggest names in comedy every Tuesday!  Recent guests have included Dave Attell, TJ Miller, Shane Mauss, Chris Kattan, and Mick Foley among many others.

A master story teller who has seen it all and remembers some of it, he does not care if you’re laughing with him or at him as long as you are laughing.  Make sure to check out his new album “Say It, Don’t Spray It” available on I-Tunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon.

 

Paul Pipitone is a fast paced comedian. Who’s been delivering laughs and excitement for over a decade across metro-detroit.

Cam Rowe is the biggest thing in comedy-Literally! At 6’9 inches tall, he has taken the comedy world by storm as a fresh new face! He was a regular on TRU TV’s Storage Hunters as the security guard known as “the green Mile.” He has also appeared on the hit show Comedy Bang Bang with Aziz Ansari! Cameron touches on real life stories that everyone can relate to. He was a 1st place winner in the Uncle Clyde Comedy Contest at Flappers Comedy Club and The Next Comic Standing Contest at the HaHa Comedy Club in Los Angeles! He has also performed over in the U.K. At the world renowned Leicester Comedy Festival! You also check out his comedy special that he filmed in Tampa, Florida that will be available on Spotify soon! Be sure to watch out for this big guy-he won’t be hard to miss!

Headliner Steve Sabo is edgy, angry, honest and hilarious! He has been seen on HBO, Comedy Central, UPN and E! He has also been heard on SiriusXM and has performed for the troops in Iraq and Kuwait. He is also the author of four books, one an Amazon bestseller and has released seven full length comedy cds.