Dave Waite
A manic Midwestern eccentric who treats mundane slacker life like an emergency.
1 special · 2026
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Dave Waite moves across a stage like someone trying to explain a car accident before anyone notices the damage. His voice bounces between a raspy drawl and an anxious squeak, pushing jokes forward in short, frantic bursts. He will take a mundane setup about fast food apps or motel coffee, pause just long enough to let the premise settle, and then pile on three quick, crooked tags that steer the bit into strange territory. When a joke does not get an immediate response, he does not pull back. He stares at the room with wide eyes, lets out a small noise in his throat, and repeats the strangest word until the stubbornness wins the crowd over.
Stand-up specials
On stage
He is a club comic’s comic, a road veteran who plays mid-tier rooms and late-night showcases rather than theaters. Peers respect him because he never adopted the polished, confessional style that dominant clubs often favor. On bills full of personal essays and slick crowd work, he stands out as an unapologetic oddball.
The material stays focused on everyday indignities: bad diets, bizarre internet videos, and the reality of getting older without acquiring much money or dignity. A set can occasionally spin out when the manic energy outpaces the premise, but he pulls the room back with sudden, sharp turns that reward patience.
He grew up in Northern Kentucky and started doing standup across the river in Cincinnati, working out material at clubs like Go Bananas. That regional sensibility never left the act. Even his weirdest bits stay tethered to roadside fast food, draft beer, and stubborn working-class habits.
Turning points
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National Television Debut on Live at Gotham
After prevailing over 19 comics in an audition at the Columbus Funny Bone, Waite made his national television debut on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham.
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Winner of Laughing Skull Comedy Festival
Waite took first place at the 2012 Laughing Skull Festival, marking a major milestone in his national club career.
At a glance
- On stage
- since 2004
- Style
- storytelling, observational, absurdist
- Breakout
- Live at Gotham
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Website
Fans also like
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Ryan Singer
Both comedians emerged as Cincinnati area favorites and co-headlined club dates together at Go Bananas.
Also on screen
- Live at Gotham
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- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
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- Not Safe with Nikki Glaser
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- Last Comic Standing
A clip to start with
Dave Waite at the Skyline Comedy Cafe in Appleton, WI