Meet Jay O’Neil | MPH Comedy Publicist, Show Host, Producer and CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jay O’Neil and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I am in this business for one reason: to make people happy! I have a deep respect for those in our world who are here to heal us, fill us with joy and bring us closer to peace and not further away. I have been in a public-facing IT job for my whole adult life. I love helping people with anything I can and getting paid for it. Though, comedy is different for me it is not completely foreign. I have been a Trivia Night Quizmaster for Geeks Who Drink for over almost eight years! Between the tech and project management I have done through IT work AND the Trivia hosting production and mic work, I feel I have the skills to finally realize my dream of owning a comedy business!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My technology career started way back in 1997. I was never the strongest technically, I am slow to learn new things and adopt new practises. BUT, I have alway been great with the clients. I was always the one getting feedback to my managers about how I was able to communicate concepts in a way that novices and lay-people could understand. I have always been told that I am warm and funny to work with. I believe this all comes from my mother. She was a nurse for all of my adolescence and taught me the value of helping and healing people. She was alway on the stage at church singing in the choirs and teaching bible studies. These examples helped guide me into the man I am and a lover of helping others. That leads to my brand. Making People Happy is right there in my business name MPHComedy! When folks see that name, I want them to think of times that made them happy and they will want to come get happy with me. I am all about taking care of the comics, who I hold in very high esteem, and the audience. Production quality and happy comics make a great show for a crowd hungry for laughter.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Over on my side of town, Northeast Houston Metro area, I have lived in Humble and now New Caney. The area is really blowing up! Kingwood is getting hipper in spots, New Caney and Splendora are growing by enormous leaps over the past few years. Humble is the convenient location of the Houston International Airport, so from there I would take them 25 minutes to downtown and watch a ball game! The Astros are still huge around here and it’s a world class stadium. After that we would head back to my side of town and visit Back Pew Brewery in Porter. The next day we would brave the Big Rivers Water Park in Splendora a few exits north. The place is huge and only growing. We would eat at the Splendora Cafe for some down home, family-owned, fantastic, country food! I would certainly take them down to Humble at some point and pick up some Chinese food at Jade Palace, who has HANDS DOWN the best egg rolls in the world. And I would have to show off the comedy scene in Houston. From The Secret Group, to the Station Theater, and ComedySportz, as well as The RIOT at Rudyards, Houston has a bourgeoning comedy scene which is on the verge of blowing up!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh yes! My friends at Back Pew Brewing, the staff and their wives, friends and family. They were regulars at a Trivia Night I hosted in Kingwood for a couple of years back around 2017. After I started my business I started hanging out more at the brewery and eventually wore them down. The Manager, Chris Martin put up his OWN MONEY for my first show here at the brewery and is was a huge success! The folks at the Atrium Center in New Caney, where I have already had one show and have another coming at the end of this week, have been very helpful and encouraging. The comics, like Brian Gendron from The RIOT Comedy show at Rudyard;s in Houston, helped me get going and helped me book my first big show. And, of course, my family, Zoe is my youngest kid. she helped serve popcorn at my shows. My son Ryker will be helping on my next few shows. My wife lets me stay out of the house all these years hosting Trivia and now has to be even more tolerant of my busy-body self! Thank you, Shannon!

Website: mphcomedy.com

Instagram: mphcomedy

Facebook: mphcomedy.club