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Craig Shoemaker  

Comedian, Actor, Writer

He’s been on Broadway, performed for four US Presidents, and has had recurring roles on network TV, solo comedy specials, hosted/produced reality television, a WGA scribe of film and sitcoms, award winning producer, a best selling author…but who IS Craig Shoemaker?

Craig began his showbiz career in his hometown of Philadelphia, doubling as a bartender and comedy emcee, while putting himself through Temple University, before taking his talents to Tinsel Town in 1988. His first Hollywood break was playing the role (twice) as an entertainment reporter on ABC’s ‘Matlock,’ where he worked alongside childhood idols, Andy Griffith and Don Knotts. Craig then had the opportunity to guest star opposite fellow Philadelphian Will Smith, as a ghost boxer in a special episode of ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air.’

This was only the beginning of what was followed by several successful TV stand-up specials and numerous co-starring roles in feature films and TV. Now ‘Dr. Shoe’ even has a doctorate degree from Cal U of PA, and his best selling book, ‘LoveMaster’d’ is critically acclaimed by the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and Dr. Drew Pinsky, helping readers worldwide to manage and transform through personal difficulties.

Craig’s latest 90-minute standup special, ‘Daditude,’ in which he also served as Executive Producer,’ aired prime time on SHOWTIME Network. ‘Shoemaker is insightful and amusing...we are moved beyond laughter to tears,’ says the Los Angeles Times. His very first Comedy Central show was voted by viewers as one of the ‘Top 20″ specials of all time. His second, ‘Unzipped’ aired to mass acclaim and the audio CD was Billboard Top 20 for six weeks. In summer 2015, he produced and starred in the #1 album on I-Tunes, ‘The Last Stand (Up).’ Two stand-up bits made it to the all time Top 10 list on XM Radio!

Voted Elevate Film Festival’s ‘Best Supporting Actor,’ Craig’s film, TV and recording credits are extensive. He recurs as Wilson Gromling, the head of the local Pawnee Tea Party, on NBC’s ‘Parks & Recreation’ had a five-episode role on ‘The Bold & The Beautiful’ was the film professor in Scream 2 and just wrapped a co-starring as ‘Bandit’ in the movie, ‘Middle Man.’ A prolific mimic and voiceover artist, Craig’s dead-on impression of Don Knotts and narration was featured in the film ‘Pleasantville’ and he’s voiced many characters in numerous animated series, including lead voices (and title song) for the new cartoon, ‘Big Foot, Little Foot.’

Craig stars in Universal’s cult hit (Stony nominated), ‘Totally Baked,’ which he also wrote and produced, along with producing the follow up Hulu hit, ‘420 Comedy Hour.’ Currently he is producer/writer for a series of animated shorts, ‘From the Crib’ and a feature documentary called ‘Laughter Heals.’ He produced, wrote and starred in the Indy feature, ‘The LoveMaster,’ which won the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. His production company produced the reality pilots, ‘Straight Eye for the Whipped Guy’ and ‘Chicken Fried Bride,’ hosted by Craig as well. Hosting chops were honed on such shows as ‘Real Funny’ on ABC and the game show ‘My Generation’ on VH-1.

Craig’s comedy style has earned him numerous awards, including ‘Best Male Standup’ at the American Comedy Awards on ABC. His work as actor/producer for PRISM, earned Shoemaker two NATAS Emmy awards. Doctor Shoe is passionate about going beyond the comedy, officiating weddings of ‘HaHa-trimony,’ as well as assisting people in mastering love & happiness. In 2003 he founded LaughterHeals.org, a nonprofit group dedicated to using laughter as a healing modality.

But credits, schmedits. Most importantly, Craig is happily married to his wife Mika and is father to three sons, Justin, Jared and Jackson and toddler daughter Chloe! Yes, the LoveMaster has mastered love and success, but a teen friend of his son sums up this performer’s career, when he nervously approached Craig and said, ‘Mr. Shoemaker, it is so cool you are verified on Twitter.’ #Classic

Speech Topics


WHERE OH WHERE IS LOVE? (90 minutes)

Dr. Shoe has long been known as “The LoveMaster.” He has an award winning film by that title, as well as several digital recordings; all with a core component being the hilarious comedy character, “The LoveMaster.” Well, now he’s turned it into a service, supplying people with the tools it takes to build a thriving love life. Whether it be with whom you’re with or someone in your future, Dr. Shoe, an ordained minister, has officiated many weddings, marrying couples in “HaHa-trimony,” where the core component in a sustained relationship is the ability to find the laughs. No guarantees for you, but Craig fixed up nine different couples who ended up getting married!

GIVING & RECEIVING EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK (180 minutes)

No one gets up in the morning and says, “Yippee, today I get to hear some feedback!” Feedback is a vital component in keeping an effective organization on track, yet it has long been misunderstood and mismanaged. In this fun, funny and information-rich three-hour training, Motivational Comedian and Trainer, Craig Shoemaker will give us a comprehensive look at the five best practices for giving and receiving feedback effectively. Managers will learn real-time tools to help them confidently engage in giving and receiving feedback from a positive, centered and unbiased point of view.

DESPERATELY SEEKING SERVICE: A Hilarious Look at the Lessons Behind Good and Bad Service (90 minutes)

Behind every great act of service, stands an astonished customer. Great service is not just a fluke. But then companies like Target, Costco and Zappos come along and prove us delightfully wrong. Motivational Comedian, Craig Shoemaker would like to ask you a few questions: What defines truly great service? How can we place the focus back on retaining customers versus just collecting them? Why can some companies occasionally get it wrong and still gain our trust? What keeps us coming back? What chases us (and our dollars) away forever? This is a very funny and insightful keynote program on why we should genuinely care about the people on the other side of the service transaction, and why we should never view service as a single transaction in the first place. Creating great customer karma comes back a hundred-fold to us in acclaim, goodwill and …wait for it…profits.

LAUGHTER & LEADERS: What Your People Want You to Know about Leadership (90 minutes)

This may be the funniest keynote program you have ever heard on the topic of Leadership. Motivational Comedian, Craig Shoemaker shares stories from his storied professional life regarding his observations on leaders who did it well and leaders who didn’t. Craig believes there are fundamental constants in the making of a great leader. Learn (or be reminded of) the everyday behaviors you can use today, to set a tone of trust, esprit de corps, and ownership among your team.

HUMOR AND HEALTH: Laughing for the Health of It (90 minutes)

In this very funny program we will look at the role of attitude, humor and laughter as powerful tools in easing stress and enhancing physical, mental and spiritual health. We will look at both the art and science of laughter. We will take a lively look at some specific ways in which we contribute to our mental, physical and emotional discourse. Inspirational Comedian, Craig Shoemaker will help us laugh while we learn some everyday tools for reducing anxieties and inviting more levity into our lives.

CAREER FREEZE: Why Should Work Always Feel Like Work? (90 minutes)

How do we stay positive during the stress of our job? In this funny and poignant keynote program, Inspirational Comedian, Craig Shoemaker will take us through a hilarious peak at how our work and career can transform into a positive outcome, just by adding humor to our daily diet. When we learn how to manage pain and upset, we have a better chance of achieving inner calm amid the outer chaos. It works for many, including the Red Sox and Lakers, two professional teams Craig has helped turn into world champions!

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PURSUING HAPPINESS: Why Not YOU?! (90 minutes)

Craig will lead your organization or your group in a look at six sure-fire ways to lift you out of your rut and begin living with purpose. Here are the tools to being motivated to lightening the load of stressors and obstacles that keep an organiztion down. America was founded in the pursuit of happiness, so let’s get pursuing!

Laughter Heals

Turning Tough Times Into Laughter (90 minutes)

Humor and laughter are powerful agents for shifting attitude. It’s long been said that ‘laughter is the best medicine’, so here’s your prescription. In this positively hilarious keynote program, Inspirational Comedian, Craig Shoemaker will use the acronym L.A.U.G.H. as a framework for sharing real-time tips to help you chose laughter more often than anxiety chooses you. Learn Craig's self-coined LAUGHIDATION technique.

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