Ep 227: Nick Bruce
In this episode of The Popko Project Podcast, host Popko sits down with Nick Bruce, owner and manager of Wise Crackers Comedy Club located inside Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Nick shares the behind-the-scenes reality of running a comedy club — from booking nationally touring stand-up comedians to cleaning up after rowdy nights and dealing with everything in between. Discover how Wise Crackers evolved from a family-run multi-location operation to one of the premier comedy venues in NEPA (Northeastern Pennsylvania).
You’ll hear hilarious (and sometimes wild) stories involving comics like Gallagher, Paul Spratt, and more — plus insider takes on the current state of stand-up comedy, the impact of social media on the industry, and the rise of short-form crowd work content.
Nick also unveils details about the first-ever NEPA’s Funniest Comedy Contest, with sign-ups open now at Wisecrackers.biz.
Key topics include:
🎤 How Nick got started in the comedy industry
🤣 Wild behind-the-scenes stories from the club
📉 Comedy’s highs and lows during cancel culture
📈 The future of stand-up in the TikTok era
🏆 NEPA’s Funniest contest details & prizes
📍 What makes Wise Crackers unique in the PA comedy scene
Brought to you by:
🌿 Keller’s Garden Center & Landscaping Services
🏗️ Ionic Development
🍔 The V-Spot Bar
👕 Axelrad Screen Printing
🍺 Beer Boys
