Rising Stars: Meet Andy Beningo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Beningo.  

Hi Andy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My first standup comedy performance was at an open mic night at Central Michigan University. I had always been a big fan of comedians and shows like ‘Seinfeld,’ so wanted to try stand-up as sort of a bucket list type thing. My first show was pretty well, and I instantly became hooked! In college, I would sometimes drive 3 hours round trip to perform 3-7 minutes of stand-up in comedy clubs like Dr. Grin’s in Grand Rapids, The Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, and at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. By the time I graduated, I had met a few comedians that liked my act and started having me travel with them on the road. I’ve been lucky to have made a standup comedy career- I’ve been on television, have had small bit parts in movies and on tv shows- and recently, just performed in my 50th state! 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Standup comedy has certainly been my dream job, but like any professions, there are a few downsides. I travel 30-35 weeks a year on the road, so, unfortunately, miss a lot of time with my family and friends. Over the past 20 years, there have certainly been some interesting shows along the way! Every comedian has a bombing story- and I’ve got quite a few crazy things that have happened to me over the years. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a professional standup comedian that has performed in over 3,500 career shows all over the world. I have performed in all 50 states, in Europe, and in Canada. I was named “Best Comedian” by both the Detroit Metro Times and Detroit Hour magazine and recently named one of the 40 Best Up and Coming comedians in the country. I’ve appeared on television shows such as AXS Gotham Comedy Live and CMT’s Next Big Comic- and my Drybar Comedy Special currently has over 7 million views on social media. 

What sets me apart from most standup comedians is that my material is clean- and centers around my wife, kids, short-lived career as a middle school teacher, my aging parents dealing with technology, and some true stories from the road. 

I am most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to make this into a career- have met some great comedians and friends along the way, and have been lucky to see a lot of different parts of the world. 

How do you define success?
For me, success doesn’t really have anything to do with “making it” in comedy or whatever professional you’re in. I mostly define success as being happy with life. I’m lucky I’m able to do comedy- but mostly happy because I’ve got a great family. Silly kids that are healthy and happy. So, getting to be their dad and watching them enjoy things is what I consider my biggest success. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.andybeningo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bingocomedy/
• Facebook: facebook.com/bingocomedy
• Youtube: @AndyBeningo

Image Credits
Jen Birchmeier