Meet Phillip Strickland of MPSC Entertainment LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Phillip Strickland.

Hi Phillip, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Phillip Strickland, but onstage most people know me as Mr Phil. I’m a clean comedian, host, and the founder of MPSC Entertainment LLC, based in the Columbus, Ohio area. Before comedy became a major part of my life, I spent about 26 years serving with the Canton Fire Department as a firefighter and paramedic.

Public service taught me to pay attention to people, stay calm under pressure, and work as part of a team. Those lessons come with me onto the stage. Comedy gives me another way to connect with people: through familiar experiences, a different perspective, and a good laugh.

I’ve been doing comedy for more than seven years. Over that time, my work has grown from performing my own sets to hosting shows and coordinating opportunities for other performers. With MPSC, I bring comedians, production crew, venue partners, and audiences together to create a complete experience. I want people to feel welcomed from the moment they arrive, enjoy the show, and leave looking forward to the next one.

Today, I’m building MPSC around live comedy, private and community events, and digital access that lets people enjoy our work beyond the room. I’m proud of my own development as a performer, but I’m just as interested in what we can build together. Our motto, ‘Together we achieve more,’ captures that approach.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has taken work, and a lot of that work happens before anyone picks up a microphone. Performing a set and producing an event are different responsibilities. As a producer, I have to think about the lineup, promotion, ticketing, the venue, sound, timing, and the audience’s experience. A good idea still needs a clear plan and people who understand their roles.

One ongoing challenge is building consistent support for independent shows. You can put real effort into an event and still have to work for every ticket sold. That has pushed me to become more intentional about partnerships, communication, and giving people a reason to come back.

Another challenge is balancing my responsibilities as a performer, coordinator, and someone who still works in emergency services. I’ve had to learn to delegate, clarify decisions, and build systems that help the team follow through. Technology can help, but it doesn’t replace a good relationship or an honest conversation.

I’m learning to build at a pace that the people and processes can support. I want growth, but I also want us to deliver on what we promise. My public-service background helps here: prepare, communicate, use the right tools, and keep working through the problem.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
MPSC Entertainment LLC brings people together through comedy, live events, and production coordination. I perform and host as Mr Phil, and I also help put the pieces of a show together: talent, venue relationships, promotion, ticketing, and the production team.

My own comedy is clean and draws on everyday life, relationships, and the experiences people recognize in themselves. As an event coordinator, I work to match the entertainment and the tone to the audience and the occasion. That can mean a comedy night, a private celebration, a community gathering, or a professionally hosted event.

What sets MPSC apart is the attention we give to the whole experience. The performance matters, but so do the welcome at the door, the sound, the pacing, and how people are treated. I want the comedians to have a good environment in which to perform and the audience to feel that their evening was worth making time for.

I’m proud that this is a team effort. Our crew and partners bring different strengths in talent coordination, audio and video, guest support, and promotion. We are building opportunities for performers while developing relationships with audiences and venues.

We’re also expanding the ways people can stay connected through livestreams, replays, and membership offerings. Those tools extend what we do, but the heart of MPSC is still people coming together. Readers who want to attend a show, explore a booking, or discuss a collaboration can find us at www.mpscentertainment.com.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think comedy and live entertainment will continue to offer more ways to reach people beyond the venue. Livestreams, replays, short video clips, and memberships can help independent performers and producers maintain a relationship with audiences between shows. I see those as complements to a good live event.

At the same time, I believe the experience of being in a room and laughing together will remain valuable. The audience responds to the performer, the performer responds to the audience, and that creates something you can’t fully plan in advance.

Technology will also change how small entertainment businesses handle promotion, bookings, ticketing, and follow-up. I’m interested in tools that give us more time to work with people and improve the event. The challenge is choosing what actually helps, keeping the systems manageable, and following through on the human side.

Over the next five to ten years, I expect more independent creators to build direct relationships with their audiences and collaborate across venues, communities, and digital platforms. For MPSC, the priority is to grow those opportunities while keeping the work personal, welcoming, and dependable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mpscentertainment.com