Meet Carmen Vallone
Carmen Vallone is a local comedian and artist with experience in performance, writing, production, and even education. Over the years, Mr. Vallone has built an exciting and dynamic career with appearances all over Central Florida and extending to Las Vegas, California and even the Bahamas. Recently, we got to sit down with Carmen to discuss his history, career successes, and current projects.
Discovering a Passion for Comedy
Originally from snowy Upstate New York, Carmen Vallone longed to live somewhere with warmer weather and lots of sunshine. After high school, he escaped the icy North for Central Florida – which had all the heat he could handle and too much sun for anyone’s health. As a new resident looking for ways to pay his bills, Carmen began serving tables at local comedy clubs. As he became more familiar with the craft and the business, his desire to create his own comedic brand sparked and grew. Thankfully, there’s plenty of opportunity in the Orlando area. Carmen began taking classes at the Orlando Improv and participating in local amateur nights to hone his talent and learn the techniques.
As with any new skill, Carmen learned through practice and perseverance. Eventually, he secured regular performance slots at the Orlando Bonkerz Comedy Club. Through this practice, Carmen developed his act and his techniques before branching out to explore even more opportunities and successes.
A Booming Career
Since those early days, Carmen’s career has spanned several mediums – including television, radio, and web series. The majority of his work, of course, takes place in live performance venues including cruise ships, comedy festivals, corporate events, Vegas casinos, and occasionally, in famous locations such as The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.
While Mr. Vallone’s career includes many highlights and incredible experiences, perhaps one of the most memorable was the opportunity to produce a pilot episode for a television show called, A Joke Off. This program was kind of like a game show, with two professional comedians competing against each other. After being given an audience-chosen topic, the contestants would create on-the-spot material for an improvised performance. You can view clips from A Joke Off on Carmen’s YouTube channel.
Where is Carmen Vallone Today?
While the pandemic may have temporarily slowed Carmen’s live performance schedule, he’s an active member of the arts community – both locally and beyond. First of all, Mr. Vallone teaches a comedy class (the very same one he completed as an aspiring artist) at the Orlando Improv. With eight week “semesters” culminating in a final showcase performance, these classes offer students a unique opportunity to develop their potential and explore the comedy scene – regardless of their actual experience.
You can also find Carmen on his regular web series, Comedy Club Reality Show. Inspired by NBC’s The Office, this mockumentary follows the daily life and tasks of comedy club box office and operational staff. Watch the episodes on Carmen’s YouTube channel – where you can also find clips from A Joke Off and other examples of his work.
Thank you, Mr. Vallone, for chatting with us about your exciting career! To stay updated on Carmen’s upcoming performances and tours, visit his website. You can also follow him on Instagram and Facebook.
If you would like to suggest an influential individual or nonprofit for our local profile series, please email krysti@orlandodecoded.com.
