It all started with a pair of glasses.

In October 2025, I was fundraising for something that could potentially change my life: a pair of eSight Go electronic glasses. Thanks to the generosity of friends, family, complete strangers, and even an anonymous donor, we managed to raise thousands of dollars.

On November 18, 2025, I finally opened that box. For someone who had been legally blind since birth, suddenly being able to see things I had only imagined was incredible. I could see my family’s faces more clearly. I could play Uno with my children. I could recognize people from farther away.

But something unexpected happened. I discovered that seeing the world wasn’t always wonderful.

It was overwhelming. For nine years, I had performed stand-up comedy without really seeing the audience. I could hear their laughter, feel their energy, and trust that I was doing my job. Suddenly, I could see the people who weren’t laughing, the strangers staring at me, and the thousands of distractions that sighted people probably stopped noticing years ago. I had spent my entire life wanting to see more of the world, only to discover that sometimes, I preferred not seeing everything. Funny how life works.

Then came the silence.

At the end of 2025, I made a decision that probably surprised a few people. I stepped away from social media. For someone who had spent years creating videos, writing posts, livestreaming, and sharing almost everything, disappearing for a couple of months was unusual.

But I needed it. I wanted to spend more time living my life instead of constantly documenting it.

By March 2026, however, the creative itch returned. And when I came back, I came back with ideas. I started working on a book about my experiences in stand-up comedy. I explored making my own merchandise, invested in a payment system and started treating Blind Guy Comedy less like a hobby and more like a business. In April, I placed third at Calgary’s 26th Annual FunnyFest competition. It was another reminder that this blind guy from Red Deer might actually know a thing or two about making people laugh.

By summer, I was shipping merchandise overseas, learning more Braille, creating videos, training to become a community outreach worker, and continuing to perform comedy wherever somebody was willing to hand me a microphone. Sometimes the money was good. Sometimes I made $6.37 for 87 minutes of livestreaming. Don’t spend it all in one place, J.R.

But September changed everything.

After years of performing at other people’s comedy shows, I decided it was time to start building something of my own. Blind Guy Comedy Presents Open Mic Comedy Night officially launched at Beats & Bourbon Country Saloon in Springbrook, Alberta. What started as an idea became a real comedy room, where experienced comedians, newcomers, and people brave enough to try stand-up for the first time could share the stage. And people actually showed up! Later that month, I joined hypnotist Scot Ward on a three-city tour through Grande Prairie, Red Deer, and Lethbridge.

For the first time in a long time, I found myself sitting in a tour vehicle, travelling between cities, performing on beautiful stages, and thinking: Holy crap. I’m actually doing this. Nine years into my comedy career, I was discovering that perhaps my greatest passion wasn’t just telling jokes. It was creating opportunities for other people to tell theirs. By October, we were already planning a professional ticketed comedy show for December. Not bad for a guy who still occasionally walks into furniture. Of course, the biggest story was happening at home. Through every comedy show, business idea, and questionable purchase, my wife Sheena was there.

She helped with merchandise, travelled with me, supported my ambitions, and occasionally reminded me that not every idea needed to become a financial investment. We made memories together, including a trip to Radium Hot Springs that she had dreamed about for two years.

Meanwhile, our five children continued growing up faster than I was prepared for. One was getting too old for trick-or-treating. Another apparently wanted to be buried so he could haunt everybody.

Parenthood is beautiful. And mildly concerning.

Then there’s Murphy, our oversized four-legged family member, who learned how to communicate when he wanted water and somehow convinced himself that a nearly 80-pound dog belonged on my lap. My lower back has filed a formal complaint. And somewhere along the way, I started taking better care of myself. In the summer, I started walking more. By the fall, I had joined a gym, started losing weight, and discovered that exercise could be something I genuinely enjoyed. I wasn’t trying to become a different person. I was trying to become a healthier version of the person I already was.

There were difficult days, too. Illness, back pain, exhaustion, moments of self-doubt, and the ordinary responsibilities of raising five children while trying to build a career in entertainment.

Some days, success looked like performing in front of hundreds of people. Other days, success was simply getting the kids to school while feeling absolutely miserable. Both counted.

So, what did this year teach me?

It taught me that seeing more doesn’t necessarily make life easier. It taught me that sometimes stepping away from the internet is just as important as showing up on it. It taught me that nine years of hard work can suddenly open doors you didn’t even realize were there. And most importantly, it reminded me that none of this would mean nearly as much without the people who shared the journey. My wife. My children. My friends. The comedians who trusted me with their performances. The strangers who donated toward my glasses. And the people who continued supporting Blind Guy Comedy, even when I wasn’t entirely sure where I was going next.

In October 2025, I was asking the world to help me see my family’s faces. In October 2026, I’m touring, producing comedy shows, building a business, taking care of my health, and learning how to navigate a world that suddenly looks very different. I’m still blind. I’m still making questionable decisions. I’m still the same guy who thinks almost anything can become a comedy routine.

But I’m also a little wiser, a little healthier, and a lot more grateful.

The year that was J.R. Bjornson wasn’t about becoming somebody new. It was about discovering just how much more I could become while staying exactly who I am. And if this is what one year can bring, I can’t wait to see what happens next. Well, figuratively speaking.

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I’ve had the absolute pleasure of hosting Blind Guy Comedy Presents: Open Mic Comedy Night at Beats & Bourbon Country Saloon in Springbrook, Alberta! Twice a month, we bring together experienced comedians, rising stars, and first-time performers for an evening of laughter and community. Our first three episodes have featured some incredible Central Alberta talent, including Vidi Epson, the comedian who helped me get started in stand-up nine years ago; Kate Hunter (Kate B), whose hilarious storytelling tackles everything from weight loss to parenting; and Jesse Gettis, whose self-deprecating comedy proves that sometimes a beard is all you need to feel manly! Now, we’re getting ready for Episode 4, and I couldn’t be more excited about what we’re building together.

On Saturday, October 24th, we’re welcoming the wonderfully funny Bianca Zuber as our featured closing comedian! Bianca brings her unique perspective on relationships, identity, self-discovery, and life’s wonderfully awkward moments to the stage. Whether she’s questioning her impressive knowledge of sharks or finding humour in everyday situations, Bianca knows how to turn personal experiences into laughs. Our open mic is about more than just comedy; it’s about creating a welcoming environment where people can express themselves, try something new, and connect through laughter. We keep things simple with a couple of house rules: no racist jokes targeting minorities and no political party attacks. After nine years of performing stand-up, I’ve discovered that one of my greatest joys isn’t necessarily being the funniest person in the room. It’s giving someone else the opportunity to discover just how funny they can be! Join the event on FaceBook.

Join us Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM at Beats & Bourbon Country Saloon in Springbrook, Alberta! Whether you’re an experienced comedian, a first-timer wanting to try five minutes on stage, or someone who simply enjoys a great night of laughter, everyone is welcome! A huge thank you to Beats & Bourbon for providing the venue, delicious food, drinks, and incredible hospitality while I handle the microphones, comedians, and occasional questionable punchlines. Looking ahead to 2027, I’m hoping to bring even more regional comedy talent into our little community while continuing to give local performers a place to shine. I’m J.R. Bjornson, your host and the guy behind Blind Guy Comedy. I might not be able to see the audience very well, but there’s nothing better than hearing an entire room laughing together. See you October 24th! Remember, small-town comedy can deliver some pretty big-time laughs!

Grande Prairie, Red, Deer And Lethbridge!

And it started with three guys in a van. Three Guys, Three Completely Different Talents At the beginning, our travelling crew was Scott Ward, DJ Rocko and me. Scott brings hypnosis and mentalism to the stage. DJ Rocko has been professionally DJing since 1999 and knows how to get a room energized before the show even begins. Then there was me. The blind comedian whose primary job is making everybody laugh even when I’m not onstage. We left Edmonton around 10 AM. Thursday morning for Grande Prairie, and there was no stress. No worry. It was three guys living their lives, talking, laughing and heading north to put on a show. The conversations in that van became one of my favourite parts of touring.

Rocko told us about balancing his work life and his love of DJing. We talked about business, different revenue streams and the weird collection of things creative people do to make a living. I talked about TikTok, brand deals, comedy and what I’m trying to build with Blind Guy Comedy. Scott talked about the business behind his performances and travelling. Rocko talked about developing training based on his experience in his line industry. We talked about what worked. What didn’t. Sponsorships. Merchandise. Show structure. Revenue. Expenses. It became a travelling business meeting with considerably more inappropriate jokes that may have been caused by me. I was the youngest at 35. Rocko was… Well I don’t remember how old he is. Scott is 50. We were at different points in our lives and careers, and everybody brought something different to the conversation. I also talked about why I think people respond to my content about blindness. I don’t want my entire story to be about everything blindness prevents me from doing. Here is how I live. Here are the barriers. And here is how I get around them. Sometimes the answer is technology. Sometimes it is another person. Sometimes it is laughing at the ridiculous situation I have found myself in. Obviously, if you’re blind, don’t drive. But other than that, let’s see what happens.

Grande Prairie Going Home

As we got closer to Grande Prairie, I started recognizing the journey in a way that probably doesn’t make sense to someone who relies primarily on sight. I remembered the turns. The roads. The bumps. I started pointing out pieces of my old life.

There was where I got my first bank account. There was Esquires Coffee House except apparently somebody decided coffee wasn’t good enough and now the location sells meat. Everything felt familiar. I left Grande Prairie in 2015 to move closer to family in Central Alberta. Returning was both incredibly happy and surprisingly sad. Because part of me immediately felt like I was home. When we arrived at the Douglas J. Cardinal Performing Arts Centre at Northwestern Polytechnic, formerly Grande Prairie Regional College, that feeling became even stronger. That campus was once a huge part of my life. I used to drop my three-year-old son off at daycare while I worked on my academic upgrading. That little three-year-old is now 15 and in high school.

Life does not ask permission before it keeps moving. Now I was back at that same campus, except this time I wasn’t there as a student. I was there as a touring comedian. I ran into my old friend Hala, whom I’d known from high school. She was working front-of-house and asked “J.R. do you know who I am?” Within about 2.5 seconds “Hala?” Scott’s reaction was basically, “Oh my God! He doesn’t need to see! He remembers everything!” Everybody laughed. What can I say? Give me a familiar voice.

During soundcheck, one of the stagehands, Ethan, told me they’d recently painted the stage floor. It had a beautiful new shade of black. Then he added something along the lines of maybe I could feel how new it looked with my feet.

That’s exactly how you talk to a blind comedian. We both cracked up.

The City That Helped Create Me

Grande Prairie knew me long before Blind Guy Comedy existed. Some people remembered me from radio at 104.7 FREE FM. Some knew me from East Link television. Some might remember ordering a burger from me at Harvey’s and getting comedy with their fries. I’d even been on that theatre stage years earlier through Spirit Seekers, a conference empowering Indigenous youth, where I worked as a facilitator and MC. Grande Prairie helped develop the personality I eventually took into stand-up comedy.

And because so many people already understood who I was, I didn’t have to spend the first several minutes convincing the audience that laughing at the blind guy was allowed. It was my favourite performance of the tour. I nearly forgot my 20-minute timer—or at least thought I had until my Fitbit vibrated right when I needed it. Thank you, technology. Afterward, people came over for pictures. I sold some Blind Guy Comedy shirts. I reconnected with people from different chapters of my life, including a former teacher whose name I’ll keep private. My friend Erica Fisher also came out. Although Erica and I didn’t actually work together in radio, we became friends through the local broadcasting world, and having her there meant a lot. Then came one of the hardest parts. Packing everything up. You spend all this time anticipating a show, and suddenly it’s over. Fortunately, we had a videographer, Bruce, capturing the night, so some of those memories will eventually live beyond my slightly questionable brain.

And how does J.R. Bjornson celebrate an emotional homecoming performance? Boston Pizza. Obviously. Blaine, Alexis, Bruce, Scott, DJ Rocko, our merch assistant Kim and I ended the night hanging out together. Blaine was one of my best friends in high school and one of the first people to welcome me when I moved to Grande Prairie in 2003. On our way out of the college, I also discovered Grande Prairie apparently installed the world’s brightest billboard. “When did you guys get that blinding billboard? That’s terrible! That’s just more light pollution!” Blaine laughed. Apparently it had been there awhile. Good to know Grande Prairie waited until the blind guy returned before installing a miniature sun.

Leaving Was Harder Than I Expected

Friday morning, we headed south. A small part of me wanted to tell everyone “You guys go ahead. I’m staying.” When Sheena picked me up at the Bear Hills rest area between Edmonton and Red Deer, we talked about it. Would I move back? In a heartbeat.

But my life is in Central Alberta now. Blind Guy Comedy was born here. My family is here. My friends are here. My comedy opportunities are here. Grande Prairie will always feel like home. Red Deer became home. Sometimes both things can be true. And when I walked through my actual front door, Murphy made sure there was no confusion about where I belonged. If you’ve never seen a Boxer perform the kidney-bean dance because his human returned home, you’re missing out.

Red Deer From Volunteer to Performer

Saturday, September 19, it was time for Red Deer. This one was especially fun because I wasn’t doing one show. I was doing two. First came the Red Deer Memorial Centre. I’ve volunteered there as a ticket taker, so I know that building extremely well. I know where the green room is. I know where most of the bathrooms are. I’ve also performed there before. But this time I wasn’t checking somebody else’s ticket. I was part of the show. And Sheena got to be there with me. People see Blind Guy Comedy and naturally see the blind guy. What they don’t always see is everything Sheena does behind the scenes. Transportation, logos, organization, helping with shows and perhaps her most important position telling me whether a joke should ever be spoken in public.

She is my wife, my best friend and the voice of reason in a business operated by someone who thought becoming a professional comedian was financially responsible.

The Blind Influencer Arrives

During this tour, I started my sets carrying my Insta360 X6 on a selfie stick. If blind people are going to be influencers, we’re going all in. The camera lets people on TikTok experience the entrance with me my reaction, the audience’s reaction and what it feels like walking onto these stages. Red Deer was more challenging than Grande Prairie. Sometimes audiences particularly people unfamiliar with my comedy need a few minutes to figure me out. Are we actually supposed to laugh at the blind jokes?

Yes. Please. That’s why I’m here. Scott described it beautifully afterward. He said he enjoys watching the transformation happen. For the first five or eight minutes, some people aren’t quite sure whether laughing is okay. Then they understand.

I’m laughing at these experiences too. Suddenly the room relaxes. By the end, they’re completely with me. I tell them I quit going to the gym because I wasn’t seeing the results. I don’t dislike self-checkouts because they’re taking jobs from cashiers. I dislike them because I can’t check myself out. And if I could drive in Red Deer, I’d fit right in. I wouldn’t use my turn signal until the last possible second. Fortunately for everybody, I take the bus.

Alberta’s Biggest Selfie Stick

Then came one of my favourite experiments of the entire tour. I pulled out my three-metre selfie stick. I may never own a giant lifted Alberta truck, but apparently this is the next best thing. I kept extending it. “Would you like it bigger, ladies?”

Longer. “Gentlemen?” Longer. “Grandma?” Longer. “Grandpa?” Longer. “Scott Ward?” Even longer. Eventually this ridiculous thing was the full three metres. Then I asked Red Deer to make as much noise as possible. I did the same thing in all three cities. The recordings will be put together so my TikTok audience can decide which city actually won. This is important scientific research.

7:50 PM. Goodbye!

My Red Deer set ran approximately 7:30 to 7:50. At 7:53, Sheena and I were leaving. Because at 9 PM. I had another comedy show to host. We drove to Beats & Bourbon Country Saloon in Springbrook for my Blind Guy Comedy open mic. I hadn’t promoted this show nearly as much because most of my attention had gone toward the tour. I figured we’d have a small turnout. Twenty-five people showed up. In that room, 25 people makes the place feel packed. That meant a lot to me because Beats & Bourbon has become my baby. My goal isn’t simply to run an open mic. I want the venue making money. I want people in those seats buying food and drinks. I want comedians to have a professional place to work on their craft without charging the audience a cover.

As sponsorship grows, I’d love to create more paid opportunities for comics. And somehow, after already performing that night, I wasn’t tired. Adrenaline is one hell of an energy drink. We finally got home around midnight. I crawled into bed.

Because naturally, the tour van was coming back the next morning.

Then There Were Four

Sunday morning, I met the newest member of our travelling crew properly. Karim Rushdy. Onstage, Karim creates music live through looping, beatboxing and other sounds. Think about the basic concept of a musician building layers live with a loop station, except Karim can turn sounds from his own body and voice into something that suddenly feels like an entire arrangement. We’d briefly crossed paths in Red Deer, but I had raced off to Springbrook before we could really talk. Now we were sitting together in the back of a Mercedes for hours. And two strangers started becoming friends. We talked about love. Relationships. Finding our soulmates. Music. Comedy. Creativity. Travel. Why we do what we do. Karim gave me two CDs, which naturally meant the blind journalist in me started investigating. And this is where his story got even more interesting. Karim Rushdy is a musician, producer and facilitator who founded The Rap Camp, a program using hip-hop, poetry and songwriting to help young people express themselves and build confidence. He has also worked in recording and music production. One of the CDs he gave me was Thief in the Night, created by NKAK Nabil, Karim and Anise K. The album was released in 2019, and the story Karim told me in the van checks out. The project says it was supported by nearly 400 Kickstarter backers. Karim contributed vocals, production and mixing across the project. His musical catalogue goes back years. His solo Bandcamp page includes projects such as iSHORTS from 2012 and Wide Awake from 2013, alongside later collaborations. He is actually performing an all ages show in Red Deer this coming Sunday September 27, 2026 at 1 PM. Reach out to me for the direct link. So apparently I wasn’t just sitting beside some guy with a loop pedal. This dude had been building things for years. That’s one of the beautiful things about touring. Sometimes the person sitting beside you in the van has an entire story you haven’t heard yet. Listen to Karim Rushdy’s music on Bandcamp⁠

Motel, Hotel… Holiday Inn

Every city meant another Holiday Inn & Suites. You better believe I made every possible musical reference. Motel. Hotel. Holiday Inn. What you doing? We chilling at the Holiday Inn. By Lethbridge, the novelty of hearing me make Holiday Inn references had probably disappeared for everyone except me. The crew headed to the Yates Memorial Centre around 2 PM. for setup and soundcheck. I stayed behind until about 5. I needed some time alone. Not because anything was wrong. I wanted to edit.

I genuinely enjoy taking people with me through social media. I want someone watching from home to experience a little bit of what touring feels like, what being blind feels like, and what it looks like when somebody is simply grateful that they get to do this.

Then I headed to the theatre. There was Chinese food waiting. This was excellent news because sometimes I become so focused on everything I’m doing that eating somehow gets removed from the schedule. Food restored. Time for comedy.

Lethbridge The Exhaustion Finally Arrives

I noticed a larger Indigenous audience in Lethbridge, so I brought out some of my Indigenous and Cree humour. Including being a “bingo orphan.” The joke involves being abandoned at a McDonald’s PlayPlace in 1998 while Mom went to bingo.

For legal purposes and because my mother hates this joke she did not actually abandon me at McDonald’s. But it’s funnier when she does. Lethbridge needed some warming up too. Five minutes. Keep going. Let them understand who I am.

Eventually they realize Ohhhh. He actually wants us laughing at this. Yes! Welcome aboard! One of my jokes involves someone approaching me at Walmart and saying “Hey, just so you know, your kids look like you.” Thanks. I had never considered my wife having an affair, but I’m glad we’ve cleared that up. By the third major show, though, something finally caught me. Exhaustion. Not necessarily physical exhaustion alone. I was getting tired of hearing myself tell the same jokes. Some comedians can perform exactly the same routine night after night, and I respect the hell out of that discipline. My brain doesn’t particularly enjoy it. After a few days, I want to change something. Add something. Chase a different idea. But on a tour, consistency matters.

So I did the set. We sold another two shirts, leaving me with only three. Then we went to Denny’s. Because apparently my touring diet is sponsored by restaurants that are open when comedians finally stop working. I ordered a sampler platter.

Initially, I told Scott I’d give my performance about a four out of ten. After food, I upgraded myself to a seven. Perhaps never conduct a performance review while hungry. Scott also gave me perspective I couldn’t have from the stage. After about eight minutes, he said, I had them. That matters to me. I want the people I’m working with to know when I think something went wrong. Trust means being able to say, “I don’t think that was my best performance,” instead of pretending everything was amazing.

Sometimes somebody standing offstage sees your performance more clearly than you do.

Going Home

Two Diet Pepsis and post-show adrenaline ensured I didn’t sleep until around 2 AM. At 8 AM, we were back on the road. Heading home. When that Mercedes finally pulled up in Red Deer, I hugged every gentleman I’d spent these days travelling with.

Nothing more manly than hugging the guys you’ve just spent hundreds of kilometres trapped in a van with. As they were preparing to leave, I told them exactly which song was going through my head Leaving on a Jet Plane. They laughed. Then the van drove away. And I was genuinely sad listening to it leave. I walked inside. Hugged my wife. And Murphy immediately informed me that being gone for approximately 26 hours required another emergency kidney-bean dance. Then I sat down in my recliner. Home.

What Did I Learn?

I learned that I can tour. I also learned that three days of touring might be plenty of touring for J.R. I love performing. I love travelling. But I also love coming home and resetting. Could I do 42 straight tour dates? Maybe. Would everyone still like me by date 37?

Let’s not conduct that experiment. More importantly, I got to see the business from the other side. Audiences enter a theatre, buy a ticket and experience a show. They don’t necessarily see venue rental, travel, hotels, merchandise, promotion, staffing and all the other expenses sitting behind that ticket. They don’t walk into a ballroom or theatre wondering whether the person who rented it is going to turn a profit tonight. They think I’m here to have an experience. For the first time, I really got to experience both sides. And I learned. I have ideas for how I’d approach my own future tours differently. Maybe fewer consecutive dates. Maybe four or five days between shows. Maybe five cities only when the opportunity makes sense. But would I tour again? Absolutely.

Don’t Wait Nine Years If there’s one thing I want someone to take from this, it isn’t that a blind comedian managed to go on tour. It’s this Don’t wait for permission to start building the thing you want. I wish I hadn’t waited nine years before realizing I could approach venues myself and create shows. I wish I’d started doing that around year five. There will always be barriers. Disability creates some very real ones. If you’re blind, please don’t take “follow your dreams” to mean you should operate a forklift.

Some barriers deserve our respect. But don’t turn every barrier into a stop sign. You only get so much time. Start the project. Make the phone call. Ask the venue. Perform at the open mic. Write the song. Tell the joke. Get in the van. I could theoretically quit comedy tonight and still say: I did comedy for nine years. I performed hundreds of times. And once, I went on tour. But I’m not quitting. In fact, here’s the ridiculous ending to this entire story. After five days of travelling, three cities, three major shows, another open mic, countless kilometres, Holiday Inns, Boston Pizza, Denny’s, merchandise, old friends, new friends and one extremely emotional Boxer… I’m home in Red Deer. And tonight at 7 PM? I’m going to another open mic. Because the comedy never stops.

You show up. You keep grinding. You keep learning. And if you’re fortunate, somewhere along the way you collect enough experiences that one day you can sit in your recliner, hear your dog snoring beside you and think Man. What a life.

The selfie stick you can get with the camera is also automatically hidden in 360° footage, creating that cool floating-camera effect without needing someone behind the camera. I personally enjoy using the X6 because I can use the Insta360 app or desktop software to make sure I’m always in frame. It also has tracking features, Dolby Vision support, and plenty of tools for making footage look great on social media.

The audio is surprisingly good, too. I find myself not needing my external wireless microphone most of the time. This has become one of my go-to cameras for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube because I can edit practically anything the camera captured around me. Its PureVideo low-light mode is especially useful. If I’m somewhere dark, like a pub or a club where I’m performing comedy, it does a great job of cleaning up and brightening the scene.

One of my favourite editing features lets me move my phone around and use its gyroscope to choose where the virtual camera is pointing. It feels almost like I’m holding the camera again after I’ve already recorded the video. This is my go-to camera these days, and I absolutely love using it. If recording your videos in 360 sounds too complicated, you can also use Single Lens Mode. Which allows you to only record one lens at a time, and you can switch in between the lens you want to use while recording in real-time.

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So far, it’s worked out. An Incredible Indigenous Comedy Lineup This showcase has a seriously stacked lineup of Indigenous comedians, including Shy Sapp, Jared Wolf Child, Sausha Supernault, Danny Knight, Shawn Cuthand, Briana Lambert, Chief Joe, Issa Kixen, Art Bellerose, Auntie Tic, Kaitlynn Brighthose, Austin Ahenakew, Arsan Buffin, Al Crawford and more.

And somewhere on that poster, under “Also featuring,” you’ll find J.R. Bjornson. Hey, they spelled my name correctly. We’re already off to an excellent start. Come See Me Friday Night I’ll be performing at the Friday, October 2 show at Community Arts Laboratory 9641 102A Avenue NW Edmonton, Alberta Doors 6:00 PM. Show 7:00 PM.

Get Your Tickets

There is also a second Must Be Nice show on Saturday, October 3 at Dolly’s Cocktail Bar, but I’m performing Friday night only, so if you’re specifically coming to see Blind Guy Comedy, October 2 is your night. Another Adventure for Blind Guy Comedy

One of my favourite things about stand-up has always been where it takes me. I started comedy because I wanted to make people laugh. Nine years later, somehow this blind guy from Red Deer Alberta is still carrying a white cane onto stages, meeting incredible performers, travelling to new places and getting opportunities I never could have predicted when I started. If you’re in Edmonton, come say hello.

I’ll be the blind comedian. Apparently that description may not narrow it down quite as much at an Indigenous comedy showcase as it normally does. See you October 2, Edmonton. Lots of love from your blind bud J.R. Bjornson

As a blind stand-up comedian who has been performing comedy for nine years, it was only a matter of time before I started my own open mic comedy night.

Beats & Bourbon and Blind Guy Comedy want to bring stand-up comedy entertainment to the community of Springbrook while giving local comedians another stage to work on their material. It will also serve as a first-time stage for anyone in Central Alberta who has always wanted to try stand-up comedy but has never had the opportunity.

At this time, our open mic comedy nights are 18+. Most Central Alberta comedians have material intended for an adult audience, but a family-friendly open mic is definitely not out of the question. If there is enough interest from the community, Blind Guy Comedy would be happy to explore an all-ages, family-friendly comedy night in the future.

Let the laughter begin!

Our first Open Mic Comedy Night takes place Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 8:30 PM to 10 PM. Each comic will receive seven minutes of stage time, with our closer receiving 15 minutes. This keeps the average show around 70 to 90 minutes.

This is not a ticketed event, nor will it ever be. Open Mic Comedy Night is a chance for everybody to get out, experience some laughter and, for some, maybe even try comedy themselves.

On behalf of Blind Guy Comedy and Beats & Bourbon Country Saloon, allow me to say

Welcome to Blind Guy Comedy Presents Open Mic Comedy Night at Beats & Bourbon Country Saloon! Let the punchlines begin!

If you are planning to perform stand-up comedy. Please arrive 30 minutes before the show. When you arrive at the venue, find the blind man with his wife. Just look for the guy whose eyes look like they’re bowls of milk. A little harsh, but it’s true.

I’m not ashamed of how I look. In fact, a lot of my comedy is based on my blindness. What am I going to do? Talk about the wall I can’t really see?

See you Saturday.

On Episode 13 of The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson, J.R. celebrates August 19 with National Photography Day, Potato Day, Soft Ice Cream Day, Hot and Spicy Food Day, and National Aviation Day. Along the way, he shares his love of spicy food, his questionable method for making “soft” ice cream, and why flying still makes him think, I should’ve just drove.

Then a hilarious TikTok about a blind man losing his artificial vision because he forgot to pay the subscription sends J.R. down a rabbit hole: phones, internet, email, YouTube Premium, podcasting tools—even having a roof over your head can start to feel like one giant collection of monthly payments.

Question of the day: If you could permanently cancel one subscription or monthly bill without losing the service, which one would you choose?

Grab some potatoes, take a picture of them, add something spicy, and enjoy another quick dose of weird holidays, random observations, and laughs on The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson.

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Happy August 17. On Episode 11 of The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson, J.R. talks about Black Cat Appreciation Day and whether superstition still has a hold on us, celebrates thrift stores, pineapple juice, vanilla custard, loving your feet, and gives a shout-out to the generations of baby boomers who watched technology completely transform the world. Plus, the show officially arrives on YouTube, giving listeners a new place to join the conversation, and J.R. shares a preview of his latest Calgary comedy adventure-including an unexpectedly stressful walk through a lightning storm.

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The Midday Show With J.R. Bjornson is a weekly podcast where JR Bjornson a Blind standup comedian celebrates the IDs of the national calendar and shares whatever is going on in his mind when recording these episodes. Runtime on average is 13 minutes. Below is the mentioned video of J.R. and his wife on a unwanted, lightning field adventure walk after a Calgary comedy show.

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The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is a weekday podcast mixing personal stories, comedy, quirky holidays, accessibility, and everyday observations—all from the perspective of a blind stand-up comedian who wants you to leave a little happier than when you arrived.

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The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is an unpredictable mix of personal stories, comedy, pop culture, accessibility, and whatever happens to be on J.R.’s mind that day.

Listen on Amazon Music

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The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is a weekday 13-minute hangout featuring unusual calendar celebrations, personal stories, random observations and whatever happens to be on J.R.’s mind.

Listen on Amazon Music

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on iHeart Radio

Listen on Spotify

The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is a weekday hangout featuring strange and interesting calendar celebrations, personal stories, random observations, and whatever happens to be on J.R.’s mind. Hosted by blind stand-up comedian J.R. Bjornson, each episode is a short, laid-back conversation designed to feel like catching up with a friend.

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The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is your daily dose of comedian J.R. Bjornson-exploring odd international calendar holidays and whatever happens to be going through his mind, with no real format, just a friend hanging out with you for around 13 minutes every Monday through Friday.

Listen On Amazon Music

Listen On Apple Podcasts

Listen on iHeart Radio

Listen on Spotify

The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is a weekday hangout featuring strange and interesting calendar celebrations, personal stories, random observations, and whatever happens to be on J.R.’s mind. Hosted by blind stand-up comedian J.R. Bjornson, each episode is a short, laid-back conversation designed to feel like catching up with a friend.

Listen On Amazon Music

Listen On Apple Podcasts

Listen On iHeartRadio

Listen On Spotify

The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is a weekday hangout featuring strange and interesting calendar celebrations, personal stories, random observations, and whatever happens to be on J.R.’s mind. Hosted by blind stand-up comedian J.R. Bjornson, each episode is a short, laid-back conversation designed to feel like catching up with a friend.

The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is a lighthearted weekday podcast where blind stand-up comedian J.R. Bjornson shares funny stories, everyday observations, quirky holidays, and the occasional life lesson. Drawing from his background in radio and comedy, J.R. delivers a positive, conversational show that feels like catching up with a friend over coffee. Whether you’re commuting, taking a break at work, or simply looking for a reason to smile, The Midday Show is the perfect companion to brighten your day.

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The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is a daily podcast where blind comedian J.R. shares lighthearted stories, everyday observations, and positive conversations to brighten your lunch break one episode at a time.

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The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson is a daily podcast where stand-up comedian and former radio host J.R. Bjornson shares random thoughts, asks “would you?” questions, reacts to the occasional local story making the rounds, and never quite knows where the conversation will end up. It’s just a blind guy, a DJI microphone, and whatever happens to be on his mind—subscribe for unpredictable conversations, laughs, and the kind of mindless chatter that’s surprisingly entertaining.

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Blind Guy Comedy, featuring Alberta stand-up comedian J.R. Bjornson, will join Indigenous comedy hypnotist Scott Ward for a three-city Alberta theatre tour in September 2026. Each evening begins with a clean stand-up comedy performance from J.R. Bjornson, followed by Scott Ward’s interactive Comedy Hypnosis Show. This is a family-friendly show and open to audiences ages 12 and up.

About Blind Guy Comedy

Blind Guy Comedy is the stage name of Alberta comedian J.R. Bjornson. Known for clean observational comedy inspired by everyday life and living with blindness, Bjornson performs throughout Alberta while creating online comedy content for audiences across Canada.

About Hypnotist Scott Ward

Scott Ward is one of North America’s leading Indigenous comedy hypnotists, entertaining audiences for more than 30 years with his interactive Comedy Hypnosis Shows and motivational presentations. A former teacher and career counsellor, he combines audience participation, clean comedy, and positive energy to create unforgettable experiences for schools, theatres, festivals, and corporate events across Canada and the United States. Through laughter and connection, Scott’s mission is to bring communities together while creating memorable entertainment for audiences of all ages.

Tour Schedule

Tickets are available through each venue's official box office. Select your city below, then click the ticket link beneath the corresponding event poster.

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Douglas J. Cardinal Performing Arts Centre
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Buy Tickets – Grande Prairie

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Red Deer Memorial Centre
Red Deer, Alberta
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Buy Tickets – Red Deer

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Yates Memorial Centre
Lethbridge, Alberta
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Buy Tickets – Lethbridge

Booking Information

Blind Guy Comedy and Scott Ward are represented by Diverse Talent Agency in Edmonton, Alberta. For booking inquiries and availability, click the "Book Blind Guy Comedy & Scott Ward" button below.

Book Blind Guy Comedy and Scot Ward

You can listen to the audio of Blind Guy Comedy or if you prefer, you can just read the blog. Accessibility rocks!

Addressing the elephant in the room... yes, I am blind. Just look at the scars on my eyes. I have Peters anomaly, which causes scarring of the corneas. Due to a lack of viable technology, surgeons in Canada will not attempt a corneal transplant because there isn’t enough technology to ensure that the inside of my eyeballs is fully developed. So, I continue to live as someone who is blind and visually impaired.

Blind Guy Comedy was created in 2020, and it became something much bigger than I ever imagined. From the beginning of my career in 2017 until 2020, I was simply known as stand-up comedian J.R. Bjornson. Then, during a few Comedy Zone Zoom shows throughout 2020, I typed “Blind Guy Comedy” into the little name tag at the bottom of my Zoom window, just for the heck of it.

From there, it kind of skyrocketed. I started telling people, “Just search for Blind Guy Comedy,” and it just kept growing from there.

So, what is Blind Guy Comedy?

It’s a more positive version of myself that I bring to the stage. I educate people about the frustrations and annoyances of being blind, but also the positive side of living with blindness, all through educational, observational stand-up comedy.

For example, one of my jokes is:

“I quit going to the gym because I wasn’t seeing the results.”

It sounds like a dumb joke, but it’s funny because it’s rooted in real life.

The truth is, I really did quit going to the gym. Not because I wasn’t seeing results, but because modern gym equipment isn’t very accessible—especially now that so much of it relies on touchscreens.

Which brings me to another joke:

“I don’t like using self-checkouts because I can never check myself out.”

It’s a double joke.

First, these eyes don’t really work. They try, but touchscreens aren’t exactly designed with blind people in mind. So, literally, I can’t check myself out.

But it also works as, “Do I look good today? I have no idea!”

And, on a more serious note, self-checkouts still aren’t very accessible for many people with vision loss.

All of my humour comes from a place of saying, “Here’s why being blind can be frustrating... but here’s why it can also be funny.” If people leave my show laughing while also learning something new about blindness, then I’ve done my job.

Every joke I tell comes from lived experience, observation, love, respect, understanding, and humility.

Another fun fact about me: I’m half Indigenous.

What’s up?

My mom is Indigenous, and my dad is white. Sometimes I joke that my dad probably walked up and said, “Hey... I kind of took your land, but... can I marry you anyway?”

I don’t think that’s exactly how my mom tells the story.

Sometimes on stage—especially during an 18+ show—I point to one side of my body and say:

“This side had the land... and this side took it.”

I’m Indigenous, and I’m incredibly proud of that part of who I am. I have my Status card, and I love weaving Indigenous humour into my act whenever it fits naturally.

For example, Father’s Day was always a little confusing for me because I didn’t meet my biological father until I was 19 years old.

I’ll sometimes follow that up with another joke:

“I wonder if Father’s Day is just as confusing on the reserve?”

Then I’ll quote my friend Hilda Lambert, who always says:

“Always date three rivers down.”

Again, it’s all observational. My comedy always comes from a place of love, respect, humility, and having fun with life’s experiences.

Blind Guy Comedy has continued to grow every single year, and I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported this journey.

This is who I am.

If you’d like to follow this blind guy’s journey, be sure to subscribe here on the Blind Guy Comedy website.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

to check out the links around the website. You can also find me across social media if you’d like to follow along.

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Follow The Blind Guy Comedy Experience. Home to comedy clips, updates, and the chaos that is FaceBook randomness.

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Follow for thoughts outside of stand-up comedy. Follow me on my personal Instagram for more JR Bjornson chaos and happiness.

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Follow on TikTok If you like, quick videos, updates, Comedy, clips, and random daily live streams. Check out Blind Guy Comedy on TikTok and follow.

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Follow me on X If you like late night, random thoughts, observational updates and less thought just post energy. Follow me on X or as I still call it Twitter.

Subscribe on YouTube

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Every few months I post full stand up comedy sett, shows where I have been professionally paid to do. And I also post my video blogs regarding Comedy too. Subscribe to Blind Guy Comedy on YouTube.

Until next time, take care. Sincerely, Blind Guy Comedy