Meet Connor & Charity Barnes | Owner, Operator, Producer: Ugly Bros Comedy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Connor & Charity Barnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Connor & Charity, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
At first, there wasn’t much intent in starting a business. My Town of Owosso, Michigan has never met my personal expectations for entertainment. Specifically, Stand-up comedy. After a failed attempt to get on stage, I (Connor) leaned into my natural calling which was networking. My former business partner and I would settle on the name Ugly Bros Comedy.
I Think More of myself now.
Our first show was an excuse to test my ability to build a stand-up comedy presentation that enthralled my community. We Succeeded.

After Some interesting trial and error, covid, the loss of a business partner, and the miraculous gain of my new partner and wife, Charity, led us both to now:
1 Full Season with 12 shows committed, 25 Performers from across Michigan, 3 from out of state, fully custom and exclusive drink menu for comedy night and the first two shows sold out.
Corridor Comedy Series also Features a dear friend of my wife and I’s as an in house Musical Accompanist to the Acts, Miles Winchester.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Creating and designing event posters is often one of the most overlooked aspects of event planning and management but is also often the first thing a perspective audience member sees before deciding to buy tickets of even attend.

I take great pride in trying to create and coercive and immersive advertising experience.

We, My wife and I, take and edit all of our own photos of events, audience members, promotional shoots and comics as they perform.

We are also constantly innovating, currently we are working on building an interview style show to possibly precede the shows.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1: Arrival and Local Exploration Morning: Arrive in Owosso. Check into The Comstock.
Afternoon: Stroll through downtown Owosso. Visit Curwood Castle Museum to learn about the city’s history.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant like Wrought Iron Grill or Roma’s Back Door.
Day 2: Shiawassee Arts Center and Riverwalk
Morning: I love the CapnCrunch French Toast at It’s A Deli Things. or the Eggs Benedict at Joe-Lee’s Crosswind Cafe. Visit the Shiawassee Arts Center, showcasing local art and offering classes.
Afternoon: Take a leisurely walk along the Shiawassee Riverwalk, enjoying the scenic views. The Ducks gather near the Cinema.
Evening: Dinner at a downtown restaurant. Consider catching a show at the Lebowsky Center for Performing Arts if there’s a performance scheduled.
Day 3: Nature and Outdoor Activities
Morning: Head to the Robert W. Arbuckle Park for hiking and birdwatching.
Afternoon: Picnic lunch at the park. Visit DeVries Nature Conservancy for more outdoor exploration.
Evening: Return to downtown Owosso for dinner and relaxation.
Day 4: Historic Sites and Museums
Morning: Visit the Steam Railroading Institute, featuring historic trains and exhibits.
Afternoon: Explore the Union Depot Museum, showcasing Owosso’s railroad history.
Evening: Dinner at a Area 52 Diner. Consider attending an event at The Avenue if there’s a performance scheduled by Ugly Bros Comedy.
Day 5: Day Trip to Nearby Attractions
Morning: Take a day trip to nearby attractions like the Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad in Flint or the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing.
Afternoon: Explore the chosen attraction.
Evening: Return to Owosso for dinner and relaxation.
Day 6: Shopping and Local Flavors
Morning: Spend the morning browsing the shops in downtown Owosso for unique gifts and souvenirs Like Rooted Merchant
Afternoon: Lunch at Greg & Lous. Possibly coffee at Foster Coffee Co. Definitely Murtle’s Choclates.
Evening: Dinner at a downtown restaurant. Enjoy an evening stroll to take in the city’s ambiance.
Day 7: Relaxation and Departure
Morning: Leisurely breakfast at your Comstock Inn At TangleWood. Pack and check out.
Afternoon: If time permits, visit one final attraction or enjoy a peaceful walk in a local park.
Departure: Bid farewell to Owosso and head to your next destination.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Dead Bread Mfg. This Clothing company in Owosso that started In 2016 by Nick Seabasty stole my heart through an aggressive viral sticker campaign and symbolizes the sort of Counter Culture that i would hope would become my costomers
Nick, runs the entire business himself and produces some of the most relatable clothing for bikers and skaters across the midwest and ships directly to his customers.

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ugly-bros-comedy-18065921373

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UglyBrosComedy

Image Credits
Paragon Studios Michigan