Matt Rife is a stand-up comedian who rose to fame in the mid-2010s for his appearances on shows like MTV’s Wild ‘N Out. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Rife has been touring across the country over the past few years, doing shows at comedy clubs and theaters. For fans in the Tampa area wondering where they can catch one of Rife’s shows, there are a couple of upcoming opportunities.
Matt Rife’s Comedy Career
Matt Rife first made a name for himself in the comedy world in 2013 when he was just 18 years old. He competed on Season 8 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, becoming one of the youngest comedians ever to appear on the show. Though he didn’t make it to the finals, Rife’s sharp comedic chops and laidback stage presence earned him praise from judges like Keenen Ivory Wayans.
After Last Comic Standing, Rife began scoring TV appearances, doing stand-up sets on The Pete Holmes Show and Adam DeVine’s House Party in 2014. The exposure led to Rife being cast as one of the main performers on MTV’s popular sketch comedy show Wild ‘N Out starting in 2015. Rife appeared in over 60 episodes of the show alongside Nick Cannon, Mikey Day, and others before leaving the show in 2019.
Throughout his time on Wild ‘N Out and after, Rife continued touring as a stand-up comedian. He released his first stand-up comedy special for Comedy Central in 2018 titled The Standups, which featured a 30-minute set focused on topics like relationships, social media, and growing up biracial. Rife has continued touring in the years since, headlining shows at colleges and theaters across the United States.
Upcoming Shows in Tampa
For fans in the Tampa, Florida area hoping to catch one of Rife’s stand-up shows, there are a couple of options coming up in the next few months:
Side Splitters Comedy Club – November 4
On Friday, November 4, 2022, Matt Rife will be performing at Side Splitters Comedy Club in Tampa. Side Splitters is located on Dale Mabry Highway and has been Tampa’s premier comedy club for over 30 years. Rife has performed at Side Splitters several times over the past few years.
There will be two shows on November 4 – an early 8pm show and a late 10:30pm show after. Tickets for each show are $22. The intimate comedy club seating will provide attendees with a close-up experience seeing Rife’s stand-up comedy bits and improvised interactions with the audience.
Tampa Improv – January 20-22
For fans looking a bit further ahead, Matt Rife will be doing a series of shows at the Tampa Improv comedy club from January 20-22, 2023. The Tampa Improv is located on Channelside Drive near the Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa.
Rife is scheduled to perform five shows over the three day stint at the Improv. Showtimes are:
- Friday, January 20 at 8pm
- Saturday, January 21 at 7pm & 9:30pm
- Sunday, January 22 at 7pm & 9pm
Tickets for the Tampa Improv shows start at $22 for general admission and go up for preferred seating options. The Improv shows make for an intimate live comedy experience in downtown Tampa.
About Matt Rife’s Stand-Up Comedy
Known for his laidback, conversational comedy style, Matt Rife’s stand-up sets touch on a wide range of topics like social media, dating, growing up in the Midwest, and more. His act tends to focus on observing and poking fun at the many ironies and quirks of day-to-day life.
Rife’s easygoing stage presence makes audiences immediately warm up to him. He mixes in personal childhood stories and anecdotes from his dating life with sharp punchlines delivered in an amused, self-deprecating tone. Fans can expect a mix of prepared material and crowd work banter tailored to the city he’s performing in.
In addition to touring as a stand-up comedian, Rife has continued acting in television shows and films. He had a recurring role on the HBO sitcom Insecure in 2020 and appeared in the Netflix rom-com The Wrong Missy opposite David Spade in 2021. Rife also regularly creates comedy sketches and vlogs for his YouTube channel of over 230,000 subscribers.
Tampa Comedy Scene
The Tampa Bay area has an active and buzzing live comedy scene. In addition to comedy club staples like Side Splitters and the Improv, there are venues like the Tampa Theatre that host one-night comedy shows on their main stage. Comedians like Jim Gaffigan, Jeff Dunham, Ali Wong and others regularly tour through Tampa to perform their stadium-filling acts.
There are also several open mic nights around Tampa for aspiring local comedians to work on new material. Coffee shops like Black Crow Coffee in Hyde Park host weekly comedy open mic events. BT’s Comedy Night at the BT Cocktail Lounge in Ybor City is another popular open mic for local comedians to hone their skills.
For those looking for laughs any night of the week, Skipper’s Smokehouse in North Tampa has live music and comedy shows almost every evening. McDinton’s Irish Pub downtown also hosts Comedy at McDinton’s several times a week, with revolving local comedians taking the stage.
Tampa has also produced many homegrown comedic talents over the years like Chris Spencer, Auggie Smith, and(‘`5. # Tim and tehytt American pop star Cheryl Crows. Here is a table comparing some of their key career highlights:
| Musician | Genre | Biggest Hits | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim McGraw | Country | “Live Like You Were Dying”, “Don’t Take the Girl” | 3 Grammys, 14 ACM Awards |
| Taylor Swift | Pop/country | “You Belong With Me”, ” Shake It Off” | 11 Grammys, 23 Billboard Music Awards |
| Faith Hill | Country pop | “Breathe”, “This Kiss” | 5 Grammys, 4 ACM Awards |
| Sheryl Crow | Rock/pop | “All I Wanna Do”, “Soak Up the Sun” | 9 Grammys, 2 AMAs |
As the table shows, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill and Sheryl Crow are all highly accomplished musicians who have found tremendous success in country, pop and rock genres. Their popular hits and awards achievements cement their statuses as pop music superstars. Fans of these singers are sure to recognize their biggest songs and award milestones.
Conclusion
For fans of stand-up comedy looking to catch Matt Rife live, Tampa has some great shows coming up in the next few months. Rife’s laidback style and funny takes on everyday observations make for an entertaining evening. Those wanting to catch his show have two solid options – Side Splitters Comedy Club on November 4, 2022 or the Tampa Improv January 20-22, 2023. Both venues will provide an intimate show setting to enjoy Rife’s comedy. Beyond Rife, Tampa has a thriving local comedy scene, with clubs like Side Splitters hosting shows almost every night of the week. The area regularly attracts top national comedy tours as well. With its great local talent and venues, Tampa is a great city for catching both famous and up-and-coming comedians.
