“I bring happiness to people’s lives. And I love that.”
Brian Wishnefsky, lover of puns, disruptive humor, and pranks, has been at it since he was a child. His first experiences with comedy happened so naturally and at such a young age, that he and his family knew it was his inherent gift. During our interview, it was clear that his motivation was to make people happy. He started in with a few clever quips, followed by a raspy, full-throated laugh and told stories the way every great storyteller knows how to do. His warmth brought on a sense of nostalgia, and I could see he had found his calling.
Brian describes himself as a philosophical man, an observer of people’s feelings and reactions. As a boy, he felt an “otherness” that he believes derived from being raised by foster parents. He was bullied by other kids who didn’t understand the depth of his family situation. Brian says, “..but I fought back and always won. I was just peaceful and considerate and that made you a target at my high school.” When Brian realized he could rely on humor, he began perfecting his craft.
“I think what’s happened in my life has made me understand it — how comedy and tragedy is one. It’s the yin and yang. I feel it. I understand it. I live it.”
And Brian’s performance is an expression of that understanding. Working mostly with children, he connects with kids through more than just laughter. His audience is taught symbolism and acceptance among other bits of pure comedy. Calling himself “Punmaster Extraordinaire,” Brian explains how important it is to embrace this type of humor.
“Puns are difficult. They’re one of the highest forms of humor.” Brian relates. “I have this act, and I don’t want to give it away, but I set them up for a pun. And I’ve seen kids have a moment of epiphany, because they understand a pun for the first time in their lives. And one of the things I would love to do is teach puns at any age, doesn’t matter what age because it’s a mental thing, but to teach them the art of punning. I want to keep it alive. It’s an ability. It’s an art.” Brian gives several comical examples, including one trilateral that he calls a compound pun. “I use that stuff on my warts!” he jokes.
I asked Brian how he came to appreciate, what is frequently referred to as, “disruptive art.”
“John, my foster father, he was my mentor in many ways, unknowingly, and his sense of humor and mine matched up perfectly even though he wasn’t my real father. He was responsible for a lot of my comedy routines. He and I would watch these Foster Brooks routines. He [Foster Brooks] would roast Dean Martin, and I’d say ‘Is that guy for real? I can’t tell!’ And that’s what inspired me to explore disruptive art. No one knows if this is an act or some crazy person! You’re tricking everyone. This is real acting. It takes a tremendous amount of timing to pull it off. And if you can get the people to really believe you’re pulling it off for real, that’s an accomplishment.”
When asked what he thought the most rewarding aspect of his profession is, Brian chuckled with excitement.
“It’s funny, because I have many of them. Does it have to be just one? I treasure my clients. They’ve made my dreams come true! I get drawings from children and thank you letters, and I save them all. And every time someone thanks me, that makes me more happy than I can explain. Especially when you hear from a child, it’s so special for some reason. They want to talk to me and hug me after a show, and you have to admit, that’s a pretty good gig.”
It’s clear that Brian Wishnefsky’s infectious laughter and love of comedy has positively affected a lot of lives. As a performer, he charms all ages by acting as the clown, the magician, the hypnotist, and the comedian among countless other characters. You can find his featured article “The Life of a Clown” in the Fun issue of Esquire magazine, and book him here to see the infamous “Sparky the Clown” at your event.