Who is Vinnie Brand?

Thanks for asking.

I’m so annoyed at people that try to pigeonhole me. Who am I?

Well, I’m a son, Brother, Husband, Father, friend, sometimes vile enemy, and soccer coach.

I was born and raised in New Jersey and am one of the creators, the other being my longtime partner and collaborator my wife Vicki Brand, of the World Famous (my world of course) Stress Factory Comedy Clubs in New Brunswick NJ, and Bridgeport Connecticut. The greatest comics in the world have graced the stages there and continue to do so every year. I started doing standup at 28 or so, late in the game by Chappelle's standards, and quit doing anything else non-comedy-related soon after. As a young guy doing stand-up, I opened an open mic in downtown New Brunswick for college students. I wanted more stage time to develop and thought the open mic was a wonderful way to do so. It was not… By opening, I was dubbed competition to clubs in NJ and was promptly banned and blackballed by all NJ clubs and NYC clubs. Being banned was motivational for me. I started doing B rooms (that means lower quality venues, bars, banquet halls, etc) and working for whatever I could muster. Then, in 1991, I decided to open my own venue at a hotel. A four-wall deal where I could book the talent and make some money. I was at this time the owner of a flower shop, a construction company, the father of three, and in a bad marriage that was falling apart. I called the club “The Laughing Stock”. Within weeks of opening, I changed the name to The Stress Factory Comedy Club. Shortly after opening I declared bankruptcy, got divorced, moved into a boarding house a friend of mine ran, had a car repossessed, moved the club to the Hyatt, and eventually moved into the location we have at 90 Church Street. I met a girl named Vicki who had a car, dated her, fell in love, convinced her to leave her path for mine, married her, and built the club into a powerhouse. That brings us to today. I am a pretty active guy. We run two clubs, and one restaurant and we have our own careers. Vicki and I have a show called Vicki and Vinnie Live which airs every Tuesday night on Facebook. We also make and post videos on Instagram, Youtube, TIk Tok, and Scrambler. Scrambler isn’t a thing, it’s just what I would call a social media platform if I invented one haha. In addition to standup comedy, I’ve served on the Board of Education in Middletown Township, coached youth soccer, put a bunch of kids through college, become a hardcore college football fan, GO BLUE and I’ve considered a vasectomy. This bio was long so I needed that last line. If you thought it was funny, call me on my cell. If you do not have my cell, you need to get that number! No biography includes the bad stuff, I want to be different. I dropped out of college and did not finish, I speed when I drive a lot but I do not text or drink and drive. I drink too much coffee and I’ve never smoked pot or tried any drug (that’s usually a good thing, but for entertainers....) I once shot a chicken (was trying to be merciful but it backfired – good story) I humanely trapped and illegally relocated over one dozen raccoons. I got out of jury duty for being deaf, I board planes early with my deafness and when I don’t want to talk to someone, I blame my hearing. I frequently tell people I went to Princeton, I know they think the college, but I mean the town. I consider my political opinions to be a fact I don’t go to church I believe in God and oddly, I think he believes in me.