HPA Talent has signed New York-based stand-up comedian, digital creator and entrepreneur Alexis Carabaño for management, the company announced today. The move underscores a broader evolution in the comedy industry, where success increasingly depends on an artist's ability to operate across multiple platforms and business ventures, not just on stage.
Carabaño's career path exemplifies this new model. Before focusing fully on comedy, he and his brother spent nearly two decades building VSPOT, a pioneering plant-based Latin restaurant concept in Brooklyn. He first began developing his stand-up career by hosting comedy shows inside his own restaurant, a grassroots approach that eventually led to winning a national comedy competition for English-speaking Latin American performers through HBO Latino and appearing on the HBO/Max special "Entre Nos: The Winners." He has since performed throughout New York City and most recently opened for comedian Marcello Hernandez. He is also the founder of St. Marks Comedy Club, a speakeasy-style performance venue in New York City's East Village.
For HPA Talent, the signing represents a strategic bet on a talent profile that transcends traditional stand-up. "Alexis is exactly the type of talent we look for at HPA because there are multiple layers to who he is and what we can build," said Paris D'Jon, CEO of HPA Talent. "He's funny, he understands business and social media, and most importantly, he knows how to connect with an audience. We see opportunities for Alexis well beyond the stand-up stage, including touring, television, digital content, brand partnerships, hosting, sports, lifestyle and entertainment."
D'Jon's comments reflect a wider industry trend: comedians who can build communities, create content, host, work with brands and develop original concepts are commanding greater attention and resources. Carabaño has already begun developing comedy concepts that connect his work to soccer culture, including "Juggling Jokes," a live event combining stand-up comedy, professional athletes, soccer culture, games and freestyle entertainment. Such ventures illustrate how comedians are increasingly becoming multi-platform creators, capable of attracting diverse audiences and sponsorship opportunities.
Under the new management relationship, HPA Talent will work with Carabaño to expand his stand-up career across touring, television, digital media, brand partnerships, hosting and other entertainment opportunities. "Comedy today is much bigger than simply walking on stage with a microphone," D'Jon added. "The comedians who can build communities, create content, host, work with brands and develop original concepts have tremendous opportunities. Alexis already has many of those pieces in place. Our job now is to connect the dots."
Carabaño echoed that sentiment, noting his initial hesitation about signing with a manager. "I'm excited to have HPA in my corner as I enter this new chapter," he said. "I actually started stand-up by hosting shows inside my own restaurant, which eventually led to some incredible opportunities. For a long time, I was apprehensive about signing with a manager or agent, but Paris and his team made me feel both comfortable and confident about fully immersing myself in entertainment. With their experience and track record, I'm excited about what we can build together and ready to put the same energy I've poured into my businesses into building the Alexis Carabaño brand."
The partnership signals that management firms are increasingly seeking talent with entrepreneurial backgrounds and diverse skill sets, recognizing that the most successful entertainers of tomorrow will be those who can navigate both creative and commercial landscapes. Carabaño continues to perform regularly throughout New York City while developing new comedy, digital and live entertainment projects.
