December 8, 2023 – Fort Myers, FL @ Barbara Mann Performing Arts Hall
December 9, 2023 – Tampa, FL @ Straz Center for the Performing Arts
December 10, 2023 – Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theatre
December 11, 2023 – Orlando, FL @ Dr. Phillips Center – Walt Disney Theater
December 19, 2023 – Ft Lauderdale, FL @ Broward Center
By John Hayden
By day, he stands by, ready to deliver two litres of epi on the rapid infuser, STAT! By night he administers the best medicine: laughter.
Nurse Blake is navigating the post-pandemic world with a tour, some wine, and his entire medical family behind him. “I have so many nurses that say they want to bring more people or bring their whole staff to my show,” he told OutClique. “As long as nurses are coming together and having a good time, I’ll do it! So, if there’s a hospital in your area, I think my tour is going there.”
His Shock Advised tour is coming to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on December 19, 2023. He talked with us as he was getting ready to hit the road on the five month, 100 date tour. He’s doing five dates in Florida in December, but it’s not just the weather that draws him here this time of year.
“It worked out really well. My whole family is in Florida. I haven’t seen them in a long time. This tour is five-and-a-half months long. I’m excited to spend the December holidays in my own state.”
Shock Advised is the follow up to his The PTO Tour in 2021. Blake is a registered nurse who still practices his craft. His fellow healthcare workers pack show after show, and they get much needed relief from their very stress-filled careers. He’s also touring in a world that is far different from just two years ago.
Many states, with Florida leading the way, are enacting a host of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws and created the era of Don’t Say Gay. Blake feels it, but he is pressing on. “I have a great supportive community that lets me be myself. I don’t hide it in my show. All that comes out. There are no secrets about me or my life, which is who I am. It’s nice and refreshing for an audience to see.”
He knows that’s not a circumstance other LGBTQIA+ performers enjoy. “I’m definitely in a place of privilege compared to other LGBTQ+ people. I’m able to be myself and am thankful to my community for always being so accepting.”
While nurses still pack the seats, his audience is expanding. “My comedy and humor have extended outside nurses. There’s a whole array of interdisciplinary groups. People who aren’t in healthcare at all come to the shows,” he said. “It’s really cool to see my audience expand and get bigger.”
Non-healthcare workers enjoy the show. While there is a lot of ‘jargon’ in the act, Blake says it’s all explained. “Even if they aren’t nurses, they can still relate to my stories. Nursing is all about people. Even though there’s specific medical terminology, I break that all down in the show.”
Throughout his nursing career, Nurse Blake has brought a light touch and humor to patients. But he keeps it restrained, lest something go awry. “I don’t make someone laugh so hard that they throw a clot or stroke out. I don’t need that!”
Since no one will be drawing blood or starting a line at the Broward Center, Shock Advised will be a bit more raw. “When I’m telling jokes in the hospital, they’re more G-rated. My show is 18 and up. It’s really for adults only. It’s called Shock Advised Tour, so you’ll hear jokes and words that I would never say in a hospital.”
“It all comes from a place of love. Humor is important to have not just for nurses and patients but families. They have a serious, tragic moment in their life. If I can bring some levity and joy, good. They’re not going to remember some medication I gave them, but they’ll probably remember a joke or, more importantly, how I made them feel. I want them to feel good, loved, and supported.”
High Anxiety
He’s a comic for an hour a night, but he’s a nurse 24/7. As much as he travels, you’d think he would have been called upon to help an audience member during a show or treat a crew member backstage. “Luckily I’ve never had to do it before, during, or after a show.” But he did have to help someone while on his way to a show . . . at 35,000 feet.
“I was on a plane and it was the first medical emergency I’d been called upon. I’ve been a nurse for eight years. I was so excited! This was my healthcare moment. It was so dramatic. I was like ‘scene is safe!’ I’m a healthcare hero!”
Once he got to the passenger, his heroic moment turned out to be not so dramatic. “The girl? She had an edible. She was just a little high. That’s it? That’s my story? I was ready to give CPR. I was ready to use the epi pen.”
At least it wasn’t his worst-case scenario. “I just never want to give birth on a plane.”
It’s Better to Give
Nurse Blake is also an advocate to end bans on LGBTQIA+ blood donations. His Banned4Life campaign works to end discriminatory obstacles in place for decades. The bans can be traced back to the early 1980s and fears of HIV/AIDS contaminating the blood supply. But that was 40+ years ago and the science has changed. “It’s definitely a discriminatory ban, not evidence based whatsoever.”
“When I started Banned for Life about ten years ago, no one was really focused on it. Over the past ten years, I’ve seen a lot of changes to the policy. I think we all have. I’m so happy it’s going in the right direction.”
Once he and other professionals started championing the cause, using new, researched based science, the needle began to move. “The advanced study came out and we were able to present research proving [the ban] is outdated and discriminatory.”
Now his efforts are being validated. “Seeing organizations, like the American Red Cross, be involved in research studies to present to the FDA is so inspiring. While there’s so much more work to be done on blood donation in general, I’m really hoping that we keep pushing forward.”
While many restrictions remain, Blake believes it’s just a matter of time. “We like to think that change happens overnight, but it doesn’t. I’m happy I stayed with it because the FDA is definitely listening.”
Merch Ado About Something
Blake is building a whole empire beyond nursing and touring. He’s organizing NurseCon at Sea, a five night cruise sailing out of Port Miami on April 9, 2024 on the Norwegian Breakaway. He’ll be there doing shows, as will drag queens, other performers, and seminars for healthcare workers.
“They’re the most epic cruises. Like Atlantis cruises but for nurses. They’re that much fun.”
While his standup is for adults, he still connects with kids. He’s written a book, I Want To Be A Nurse When I Grow Up. Nurse Blake also has his own magazine, making him the Oprah of entertaining Nurses. The magazine has 25,000 subscribers, who can sign up through his website.
“A lot of nurses come to my shows and watch my videos. I wanted to give them another medium. I’m able to tell stories from other nurses, so it’s even bigger than what I share on social media.”
He also has his own line of merch. Sure, there are the usual items like sweatshirts and socks. But he’s also a vintner and is most proud of his line of wines! “I have a yummy rosé and a pinot grigio that is to die for.”
The vino was inspired by both his colleagues and his grandmother. “My grandmother is a big lover of wine and I know nurses like to drink after a long shift, so I decided to come up with a wine.”
It’s called 14th Hour, mindful of the work nurses do. Nurses work twelve hours and drive home in the thirteenth hour. By the 14th hour they should be chilling with a glass of wine.” It seems sales are going well. “Nurses like to drink. We’ll set records at the bars. It’s our unhealed trauma and coping mechanism.”
Nurse Blake may not have a Kardashian-sized following on social media, and he’s fine with that. He’s a fan of quality over quantity. “I’m so lucky they’re all so positive. They support each other and me. I try to have quality followers. I don’t have time for drama and negativity.”
And like his 14th Hour wines, Nurse Blake is aging like a fine, and funny, wine.
For tickets, visit BrowardCenter.org
