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Matthew Baker (entertainer)

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Matt Baker
Born (1981-11-09) November 9, 1981 (age 43)
Occupation(s)American entertainer, writer, comedian, and podcast host
Known forGuinness World Records
Matt Baker Comedy and Stunt Show
Moisture Festival Podcast
Odd and Offbeat Podcast
Museum of Curious Things

Matthew Baker (born November 9, 1981) is an American entertainer, writer, comedian, and podcast host. He has broken five Guinness World Records (three of which he still holds)[1] for stunts primarily related to juggling. Baker was named one of the top five clean comedians in Seattle. He performs a comedy and stunt show at events around the world and is regular entertainer for Disney Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean.[2] He currently hosts two podcasts, the Moisture Festival Podcast and the Odd and Offbeat podcast, with co-host magician and comedian Louie Foxx.

He is currently based in the Pacific Northwest.

Early career

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Baker started his career at the age of seventeen, touring Ireland and the Czech Republic as part of an international footbag team.[3][4] The tours were sponsored by Mars, Inc. as a marketing blitz aimed at creating buzz in the respective countries. Soon after Baker received a job touring the United States performing non-competitive games in a show called Creative Athletics.  After touring the states for two years, Baker teamed up with fellow performer Alex Zerbe to create a comedy and juggling team called the Brothers From Different Mothers. The Brothers toured the United States performing at festivals, fairs, corporate events and theaters for eight years. They were finalists in the inaugural Laugh Across America Comedy Contest, were part of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and did a short residence at the Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge Tennessee. In 2009, Matt began a solo show called the Matt Baker Comedy + Stunt Show.

Comedy and Stunt Show

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In Baker’s Comedy + Stunt Show, he showcases a family friendly blend of stand up comedy and unusual skills.[5][6] Baker has been performing this show for over a decade at a variety of events and locations around the world, including the Sonesta resort and Casino in St. Maarten, military bases in Europe as part of the Armed Forces Entertainment Tour, hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, colleges, and theaters.[7][8] Baker has also performed his show as an opener for SNL comedians Jay Pharoah and Melissa Villaseñor.

Guinness World Records

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Baker currently holds three Guinness World Records. The records he holds are:

Matt Baker performing one of his Guinness World Record stunts.
  • Most Bowling Balls Caught on the forehead in 30 seconds[9]
  • Fastest Time for a pair to exchange costumes while juggling[10]
  • Most complete changeovers juggling three objects in one minute (leaping)[11]

He appeared in the 2014, 2015 and 2017 Guinness World Record books.

Podcast host

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Baker hosts two podcasts, both are co-hosted with fellow comedian and magician Louie Foxx.

The Moisture Festival Podcast is a podcast that features long form interviews with the performers, volunteers and producers of the world's largest variety arts festival. Guests include:

Matt Baker performing one of his unusual skills at Seattle’s Moisture Festival.

The other podcast is the Odd and Offbeat Podcast that has Baker and Foxx trading comic banter as they share weird stories that appear in the news. They occasionally will interview guests, including:

Matt Baker performing a high-flying stunt.

TV/movie/podcast appearances  

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Museum of Curious Things

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As a side project, Baker started a mobile curiosity museum called the Museum of Curious Things. The museum originally was located in Seattle at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall, but since has been moved and it travels to events all over the Pacific Northwest. The Museum is housed in a Airstream Trailer and is full of cultural artifacts, unusual taxidermy, crypto-zoological samples, anatomical oddities and historical mysteries.[12]

References

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  1. ^ McDonnell, Brandy. "Record-setting comedy: Matt Baker goes for laughs and wows as the official street performer at the Festival of the Arts". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  2. ^ "Comedian Matt Baker standing up for himself | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  3. ^ "Comedian Matt Baker standing up for himself | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  4. ^ Swick, Shaun (2014-09-22). "The Secret Lives of Comedy Jugglers". City Arts Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  5. ^ O'Donnell, Michael H. (2014-01-12). "Juggling humor: Half comedian, half stunt man, whole lot of laughs". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  6. ^ Anderson, Craig (2017-07-23). "Baker brings comedy, stunts to Delaware State Fair". Bay to Bay News. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  7. ^ Swick, Shaun (2014-09-22). "The Secret Lives of Comedy Jugglers". City Arts Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  8. ^ Sedlak, Rebecca (2023-11-27). "Curious Comedy Tour gets big laughs at Cozmic Pizza". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  9. ^ Guinness World Records (2014-01-31). "Most bowling balls caught on the forehead in 30 seconds". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  10. ^ Guinness World Records (2014-01-08). "Fastest time for a pair to exchange costumes while juggling". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  11. ^ Guinness World Records (2012-01-01). "Most complete changeovers juggling three objects in one minute (leaping)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  12. ^ "What turns a passion or collection into a Seattle museum?". The Seattle Times. 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
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