Ty Boice MUG

Southern Oregon comic Ty Boice will bring his gut-busting bits to the Compass Hotel Medford by Margaritaville for the resort’s monthly Compass Comedy Show.

Bringing “cool dad” energy, Boice’s self-deprecating comedic style evokes laughter through relatable anecdotes and misadventures.

The show is organized by Black Market Comedy — a Southern Oregon-based comedy collective formed approximately 15 years ago — with the event being hosted at the Compass Hotel’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, named after the late Jimmy Buffett’s 2003 hit single with Alan Jackson.

“Last year I put him (Boice) up for one of his first headline gigs down here and he packed the place, it was awesome,” said Levi Anderson, cofounder and sole manager and promoter of Black Market Comedy. “He’s been an awesome supporter of comedy throughout the region.”

Boice will be performing from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2-3. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at eventbrite.com/e/compass-comedy-show-tickets-786359330927?aff=erelexpmlt.

After more than a decade working as an award-winning actor and director, Boice —who was born and raised in Gold Beach — has performed stand up at some of the most premier venues across the West Coast including Portland’s Helium Comedy Club, Laughs Comedy Club in Seattle, Mad House Comedy Club in San Diego and more.

Like many comedians, Boice got his start in the stand up scene through open mic shows, honing his craft with other amateurs before moving up to bigger sets.

“I wanted some catharsis, so I went to my first open mic and loved it … It was completely horrifying,” Boice said. “Like every new comic, I bombed a lot and then I kept getting opportunities to do more time.”

Combining his stage experience as a theater actor with his ability to crack a joke even in the toughest of times, Boice built up his skills on the mic.

“Even if I’m the butt of my own joke, it just feels like this super power,” Boice said of cracking a well-timed joke.

A key mentor to Boice’s stand up was comic Carl Lee.

“He took me under his wing and helped develop my career in stand up in a big way,” Boice said.

The comedian also takes inspiration from big-time humorists such as Tom Segura and Nate Bargatze.

“What I like about them is they’re very genuine on stage and anecdotal; they talk about themselves and the human condition,” he said.

Boice also performs sketch comedy, with his latest work being “Red Hot Lovemaking Tips with Edgar Allan Poe,” hosted by comic Erik Escobar. Boice will showcase his improv chops at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at The Talent Club, 114 Talent Ave., Talent.

Outside of stand-up comedy, Boice works as a producer for his company Soul Of Wit Productions and is a dedicated father.

Anderson and JoJo Howard, director of sales and events at the Compass Hotel, aim to continue providing pro-level comedy at the venue and make the hotel Southern Oregon’s hub for stand-up acts.

“JoJo and the Compass have been instrumental in helping us really brand this area as a place that entertainers want to stop and spend some time in and enjoy,” Anderson said, adding, “This is one of the best audiences, and I hear this from the comedians, that that’s another draw for them … the audience at the Compass is so appreciative.”

The Black Market Comedy and Compass Hotel partnership celebrated a year of comedy shows in January.

“We’re hoping for a long term partnership with Black Market (Comedy), and we’re hoping that we can continue to elevate what we’re doing and bring more things to the audience,” Howard said.

The two parties are workshopping the idea of expanding the stand-up shows to an outdoor venue nearby.

“One of our ideas is … we want to do something at the newly remodeled Bear Creek Golf Center on the outdoor patio that’s so beautiful, so were thinking about doing some type of outdoor series,” Howard said.

The organizers are also hoping to expand to put on more than one or two shows per month at the hotel and bring more comics out, Anderson said.

To learn more about Black Market Comedy, go to blackmarketcomedy.com.

For more information on the Compass Hotel, 2399 S. Pacific Highway, Medford, see compasshotel.com/medford.