Meet Brian T Shirley

We recently connected with Brian T Shirley and have shared our conversation below.

Brian T, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I loved writing as a kid, making up stories, characters, jokes, silly sayings. I also loved to make people laugh and as I grew I loved watching movies. In High School I flirted a little with acting and comedy, but was never really serious about them, and I never completely stopped writing.
Then I went into the USAF and once again found myself writing sayings, jokes, etc and showing them off to my fellow airmen and also being called upon to help with the entertainment side squadron functions ( putting together skits, emceeing events, etc).
Then went I got out of the service, I went to a Comedy Club, joined a workshop and got onstage for the first time as a comedian. That night I found the next step in my purpose of being a full time entertainer. That was 30 years ago, in the last 10-15 years I’ve added acting, DJ, event host and voice over artist to my arsenal.
I think finding and fulfilling your purpose can be a lifetime thing. I’m still finding new ways to entertain people and make a living at it. I love the variety of things I’m doing and looking forward to the next gig, audition or new skill I’m going to pick up.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

They say overnight success takes 10 years, well I’m 30 years in and still not a household name, but I’m doing what I love to do!

After years of being a touring and struggling comedian, I decided to diversify my talents, and started adding other skills to my resume. I hosted a podcast for 4 years (The BTS Radio Show), I started hosting trivia and still do when I’m in town, and I decided to pursue acting as well.

All of these pursuits really fed into each other and made me a stronger entertainer over all. Little did I know the road was about to get very bumpy.

9/11/2018- I had a massive heart attack and quadruple bypass the next day. I recovered and started my comeback to the stage and starting getting work as an actor as well. I shot a regional commercial for Western Pest Services in Jan of 2019. Things were looking very good.

Then, as we all know, COVID happened. It killed everything I was doing for a very long time. I went back to delivering pizza and being a brand ambassador when I could. Slowly things came back and the gigs were flowing pretty good and I was having the best years career wise I had ever had.

Then, late 2023, what I thought was another heart attack was a small blood clot in the general area. Not big enough to operate on, but kept me in the hospital for 5 days, cost me some recovery time and medication for over a year I could not wait to get off of.

There have been other challenges as well and we all go through them. I am very lucky to have the support of a wonderful family and some really great friends. They are a big reason why I’m still here. I also have to say the support from the folks I’ve met at the shows, the talented people I’ve met on sets and performed with onstage, are another reason I still have a love for entertainment. I just can’t get it out of my system.

2024 & 2025 have had some highs and lows as well. I must say though, I have really got to do some cool gigs, especially over the last 3 to 4 years. I mean, stuff I would have never thought of. I was flown to Chicago, then 2 weeks later, to New Orleans as an actor for a lawyer training seminar to help lawyers with their cross examination. Hopefully I’ll be doing more in 2026. I’ve been a fake speaker for organizations, a fake wedding officiant and a fake employee at a annual company meeting down in Marco Island, Fla. I’ve also been a Bond Villain (Blofeld, think Dr. Evil) for a “Bond” themed company party in Atlanta, “The Mad Hatter” for another one in Chas, SC and event host for community events, all of these, like I said, in the last 3 to 4 years.

Right now, as we go into 2026, I’m excited about some of the things I was able to accomplish this year, and I’m working on some special stuff already for January.

A horror feature I was a part of came out in October and premiered in New York and is now making it’s way to film festivals and streaming platforms, so watch out for “The 7th Day” if you’re a horror/thriller fan.

Also, if you’re a horror fan, look out for the horror short film “The Rugged Cowboy” which is also heading to film festivals and will then be released on You Tube. I had a lot of fun with this role and really got to get creative as you will see.

I’ve been working with my friend Ron Frazier and some other very talented actors on Ron’s web series “Next Caller” and we have some really cool things going on with this for 2026 & beyond (Cross you fingers). Right now we have the 4th episode about to drop and start work on the next one soon.

I’ve got an interview on the podcast “Snackin & Yackin” with Big Ben Kennedy coming up, which will be on his You Tube Channel around the first of Dec 2025.

Today I did some voice work for a fan film project, which was cool because I got to voice a super hero. Fallow my social media for more on all these projects and more. ( A film & TV show I can’t say anything about yet).

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think writing and a love of performing have been the foundation for everything I’m doing now. I only wished I had be serious about developing them more, sooner in my life. My love of music is the other thing i love to share, so when I host trivia (where I play music in between questions) or DJ a wedding, pool party of public event, I get to share my love of music with people.

I would tell people to find what you love to do, develop as many skills around you interest as you can and never stop learning. Keep expanding and stepping out of your comfort zone.

I wish I had started hosting trivia, acting, being a DJ and doing voice acting sooner. But that’s fine, at least I figured out that I can make a living as an entertainer and did it my way. Find your way!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Right now I have to level up and that can be tough. I need to find a good agent and/or management. I’ve gone about as far as I can go on my own. Now I need to find the right people to get me to the next level.

Knowing this is half the battle, finding these people and getting their help is the other half. I believe I can help them out as well by delivering what they need in a performer, so it’s a 2-way street,

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