Mark Craycraft

Mark Craycraft is a former Director of Entertainment for Dick Clark Productions, Inc., in Los Angeles, California. Craycraft was blessed to have worked with the American Music Icon for over 3 years.  More on that later…

Mark started working in the hospitality business at age 16. His love of food lead him to many different aspects of the hospitality industry. From building comedy clubs producing over 1.5 million dollars in revenue a year to being part of the management team in charge of a 8 unit restaurant chain with an annual gross income of over 22 million dollars. Starting in the entertainment field in 1988, his extensive production background includes creating, planning, executing and designing some of America’s largest events.

His first introduction into the comedy world was working at comedy club, the Funny Farm in Louisville, Kentucky. Within months he was transferred and moved to Tampa, Florida and began working as the marketing director for their sister organization, Crackers Comedy Club.  When the club opened he began hosting/emceeing the shows in order to meet the local businesses. Bitten by the performance bug, Craycraft used his newly acquired communication skill to network with some of the largest events in Tampa. Stand-up comedy was still in it’s heyday and humor was the perfect attraction to showcase the club and partner with large events.  Hosting events such as the Johnnie Walker World Cup, Super Bowl Pairings Party, Vinnie Testaverde $1,000,000 Celebrity Shootout and many more.

Craycraft networked and utilized the same formula for results at Crackers Comedy Club in Indianapolis.  A few highlights include hosting the first Brickyard 400 launch party with Rusty Wallace, working with the Indiana Pacers, great comedians like Chris Rock and producing the Little 500 theater performance with Dennis Miller. Through his networking, the opportunity to work with Dick Clark came along. As Director of Entertainment, one of the marketing and promotional responsibilities was to interface the Dick Clark American Bandstand Grill restaurant division with all the Dick Clark Productions.  Creating brand standards within the restaurants was one of the keys to growing sales.  Working side by side with each Grill General Manager (8 total) Mark created a complete training program for management and servers.  This also gave them a yearly outlook on promotions including new menu item roll outs, coordinating Dick Clark visits, and guest contesting for the opportunity to be  a part of the actual Dick Clark television productions. Trips included the Academy of Country Music Awards, The American Music Awards and New Year’s Rocking Eve in Times Square. These events where successful in connecting consumers  with the music icon on a personal level.

In operating and managing large festivals, comedy clubs, and restaurants in Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee, he also designed and streamlined logistical systems, ensuring that events run smoothly and efficiently. He produced 300+ episodes of “Who’s Laughing Now” video on demand stand-up comedy series for XFINITY on Comcast and has a history of producing entertaining stand-up comedy and music events, at all-sized venues, typically with charity elements involved. 

Craycraft recently produced a nationally broadcast 13 week stand-up comedy TV series called “Laughter in Paradise”.  The show is currently on Amazon Prime. He is currently a Lifestyle Director for Castle Group management in Florida and is in the process of producing a Florida stand-up comedy tour entitled “Laughter in Paradise”.  For more details, please visit the next page . . .