By John Spinelli
MIDDLETOWN – It’s not often you hear the phrase “TikTok famous” applied to men in their 60s, since the app is favored by Gen Z and Millennials. But Vinnie Brand, 63, a Middletown resident, comedian and owner of The Stress Factory, a comedy club in New Brunswick, has amassed a large social media following – 50,200 on TikTok and 24,800 on Instagram.
Brand found his comedy niche in the early 1990s after faltering professional prospects.
“Before the club, I suffered two setbacks in my business career,” he said. “When I left Rutgers University, I founded a construction and flower shop company, which both went bankrupt. It forced me to work for another construction group before beginning this route.”
In 1991, with some help from family, he became involved in a new chapter of New Jersey comedic history. Given what he perceived as the New York entertainment world “looking down” at the Garden State for many decades, he vowed to make the new venue a game-changer.
“When we started this club, we were doing it to survive. I had almost no money left,” he recalled.
But his luck would soon change. As one of the only comedy venues outside the city at the time, The Stress Factory was a hotspot for local artists and audiences looking to enjoy a night of humor without traipsing into New York City. Not long after opening, news of the club’s success spread to the late-night shows.
Brand favors “harmless pranks” at his club, which has a reputation for imposing “silly” rules on patrons entering the club. Videos of people reacting to these rules are often featured on TikTok.
The short clips range from Brand asking guests for their COVID-19 vaccination card – in 2025 –or having a “no shorts” policy even though he is wearing shorts. Didn’t know that was a rule? Brand laughed and said club policy can change at any second.
“The success of TikTok came organically. It became popular by users sharing the clips and word of mouth,” he said.
Although he manages the club and owns another in Connecticut, Brand still performs stand-up comedy; his focus is on observational humor. He said growing up in Monmouth County inspired him.
“The majority of Americans don’t live in the city, so they can’t relate to a comedian talking about the subway or a bodega,” he said. “With my style, I discuss suburban life and relate to the audience about everyday things.”
Brand said topics he discusses range from fatherhood to work-life balance (Brand’s wife, Vicky, is his business partner), school stories (Brand served on the Middletown Board of Education from 2011 to 2017) and neighborhood affairs. He credits comedians like George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Bob Newhart as inspirations growing up.
Famous comedians who have performed at The Stress Factory include Ray Romano, Kevin Hart, George Lopez, Dave Attell, Bill Burr, Chris Rock, Andrew Dice Clay and more, including state Sen. Jon Bramnick.
“My opinion is you should come to a show to laugh, have a good time, and don’t leave hurt. That’s what I try to accomplish at my stand-up shows and at The Stress Factory,” he said.
Despite his current success, a comedic career was not something he imagined for himself 34 years ago.
Looking back, he said, “I wish I had pursued my dreams of starting the comedy club” sooner.
“When I was little, I always wanted to be in entertainment.”
Brand, who never inked a Hollywood deal, said he believes independent comedy like his will have more influence than traditional outlets in the future, largely because of social media.
“My one piece of advice for new comedians today is to create your own ‘avenue,’ ” he said. “If you wait for a media giant like NBC, you’re most likely not going to be picked up. And that’s OK. Don’t be afraid to be creative. My success didn’t come from being recommended by another famous comedian or a TV (or) radio contract. There’s always so many possibilities out there.”
Vinnie Brand will be performing at the New Jersey State Theater in New Brunswick at 8 p.m. Sept. 27. Tickets are available at stnj.org/events/detail/comedy-night-live-092025.
The article originally appeared in the September 25 – October 1, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
