Seen on Funny Or Die, Disney XD, MTV, NBC & more!
“Modern Day Renaissance Woman”, Music Connection Magazine
Denise Vasquez is an award winning, multi-talented artist, singer, writer, guitarist, actress, photographer, and stand up comedian. Known for her captivating, energetic and thought provoking performances, she has been making waves in the entertainment industry receiving rave reviews from the press, and winning numerous awards: Recipient of The Inspired Creator Award, Worthy Works Award, 5 ASCAP Plu$ Awards, Winner Of Songwriters Monthly Future Charters award, Westlake Studios Artist Development Deal, Listed on Music Connections Hot 100 List for 6 consecutive years, Nominated for Female Vocalist Of The Year & Album Of The Year by the LA Music Awards, Nominated for 5 Mavric Music Awards, recognized by the Recording Academy in 5 categories and much more.
Born & raised in New York City Denise has been on an adventure, traveling the world, sharing her talents with all of her heART, while living in Scotland, London, the US Virgin Islands, California and now Nevada.
As an entertainer, Denise has been part of the live performance scene doing Improv, Sketch Comedy, Acting, Dance, and Music for over 50 years! Denise first took the stage at the age of 4 with Ms. Dorothy's Dance School, and from the moment she stepped on stage, she was in her happy place, felt connected to her creative spirit, and knew she was home! Denise continued performing throughout elementary school, junior High school, College, and her adult years.
Denise got her first taste of performing live comedy in the 90's when she auditioned and got cast as a member of Joy Newmans Grown Ups Playground, doing improv at The New York Comedy Club. Denise also performed improv with Los Banditos De Chocolate at Shetler Studios, and sketch comedy with the W.E.T. Girls (Women Experimental Theatre Group) at The CSV (Clemente Soto Velez) Cultural Center. Her talent shined bright during live performances catching the attention of casting directors like Ryan Shiraki landing her bit parts and under five roles on TV shows like SNL, John Leguizamo’s “House Of Buggin”, and MTV “You Wrote It You Watch It” with John Stewart. Over the years Denise has been seen on Funny Or Die, Disney XD, in and in numerous Films, on TV, Music Videos and more. Visit IMDb.me/DeniseVasquez
Denise Vasquez began her stand up comedy journey in 2013, and quickly began getting noticed and booked on shows. In 2014 Denise was featured in The Stand UP magazine, 2015 Denise was selected by The Ventura Comedy Festival Laughter By The Sea to perform in 2 shows, and was also selected to perform in Shaq’s next Allstar comedy show at the TCL Chinese theatre. Denise performed regularly at Flappers Comedy Club (LA), where she won The Battle Of The Sexes, and has also performed at DDT (LV), Comedy After Dark at C3 Lounge (LV), Buck’s Tavern (LV), Wiseguys Comedy Club (LV), Silent But Deadly Area15 (LV), Delirious Comedy Club (LV), The Sand Dollar (LV), Bally's Hotel & Casino in the LA Comedy Club (LV), Ainsworth in The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (LV), Treasure Island Hotel and Casino (LV), The Broadway Comedy Club (NY), The New York Comedy Club (NY), Greenwich Village Comedy Club (NY), The Comedy Store (LA), Formosa Cafe (LA), House Of Blues (NOLA), Inside Jokes Comedy Club (LA), The Comedy Palace (SD), Sal's Comedy Hole (LA), The Ha Ha Cafe Comedy Club (LA), Grisly Pear (NY), and much more! Denise has also Produced, Hosted & Performed in six Ladies Night Music Festivals (St John, USVI), in her WO+MEN 4 A CAUSE events (LA), and WO+MEN 4 APPLAUSE comedy and music variety shows at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, and at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank.
Denise’s momentum in comedy was put on hold after an accident at work landed her in a wheelchair for 3 years, but like she sings in her song, she is “Back On Track” and Standing UP literally. Denise has been performing again around Las Vegas, working on new material with a goal to do her 4th album, and comedy special featuring her funny songs and comedy. With her quick wit, infectious energy, and inspiring story, Denise Vasquez is definitely one to watch in the comedy world.
As a musical artist, Denise has been featured live on KCLA 99.3 FM, KWSS 106.7 FM, KPFK Arts In Review 90.7FM, 88.5 FM "Tied To The Tracks, VM Underground and more! Denise has performed in industry showcases, festivals, and some of the most legendary venues around the world including: The NAMM Show (OC), Music Connection Magazines’ Best Kept Secrets (CA), KBH Showcases (CA), Songsalive Showcases (CA), Circle Of Songs (CA), Sheena Metal Presents Showcases (CA), Brett Perkins Listening Room Series (CA), Worldfest (CA), Summer Fest (CA), World Vegan Day (CA), South Central Farm Aid (CA), LA Homeless Service (LA), Hunab (Cozumel, Mexico), Far West Conference (CA), Relay For Life (CA), i2Y (CA), Cancerpalooza (CA), Peace Thru Music (CA), Dessert Songfest (CA), Method Fest (CA), Bringing Peace To Paradise Festival (USVI), Arts Alive (USVI), The Cavern Club Room 1 & 2 (Home of the Beatles in Liverpool, Merseyside), The Dublin Castle (Camden, Greater London), The Annesley House (Dublin, Ireland), Coffe Evolution (Hudderfield, West Yorkshire), Under The Boardwalk (Sheffield, South Yorkshire), JediCon (Dusseldorf, Germany), The El Rey Theater (LA), The Roxy (LA), The Music Box (LA), Lestats (CA), Alice Cooperstown (AZ), The Rainbow (LA), The Viper Room (LA), Club Lingerie (CA), The Martini Lounge (CA), Muddy Waters (CA), The Bitter End (NYC), The Duplex (NYC), 55 Bar (NYC), Roses Turn (NYC), The Burren (MA), Harvelles (LA), Knitting Factory (LA), Zoeys Cafe (CA), Cafe Bella (CA), Mais Cafe (CA), Experimental Cafe (CA), The Hard Rock Cafe (CA), Dipiazza’s Lounge (CA), The Gig (LA), The Key Club (LA), The Cat Club (LA), The Joint (LA), The Mint (LA), Chick Singer Night (LA), Room 5 (LA), Monsoon Cafe (LA), Molly Malones (LA), Genghis Cohen (LA), The Coffee Gallery Backstage (CA), Tully’s (CA), Lush (LA), Gypsy Den (CA), Lava Lounge (LA), Tempest (LA), Universal Bar & Grill (LA), Westwood Brewing Co. (CA), Fremont Theater Center (CA), Kulaks Woodshed (LA), MBar (LA), The Santa Clarita Seafood Co. (CA), Borders Bookstores (Many locations around Southern California), Caffiends Lounge (CA), Highland Grounds (LA), Tangier (LA), The Derby Mainstage (LA), Sherman Oaks Lounge (LA), Acoustic Cordiale (LA), Top Fuel Kawfee House (LA), Karma Coffeehouse (LA), El Cid (LA), Acoustic Playhouse (LA), The Talking Stick (CA), The Coconut Teaszer & Crooked Bar (LA), Ladies Night Festivals/WO+MEN4 A CAUSE Festivals (USVI, LA, AZ), The Westin Resort (USVI), Caneel Bay Resort (USVI), & lots more! She has self produced & published 3 albums: "Frame Of Mind", "Live In One Take", and "Fighting Darkness" (Social Butterfly Music), wrote the music, lyrics, sang & played guitar on all of her albums and is currently writing new comedy songs for her 4th album. Denise proudly endorses and loves working with Epiphone, Audix Microphones & G7th Capo.
As a writer, Denise began writing monologues, shorts, poetry, plays & songs covering important topics & issues at an early age. Denise is currently writing and Standing Up literally in her Stand-Up Comedy covering topics ranging from: womanhood, disability, relationships, stereotypes, wordplay, the internet, being a NewYouRican & much more! She has written award winning songs, poetry and short plays over the years: as a performing songwriter she won 5 ASCAP PLU$ awards, her poem "What Is Love" about self love, won the Editors Choice Award from the International Library Of Poetry & it was published it in a compilation book of poetry called "Dancing In Light". Denise wrote & performed in a play about female gangs & bullies called "Sisterhood" which was selected and presented at a festival at the St. John School Of The Arts in the Virgin Islands receiving rave reviews from the press. She’s written articles for PROMOTE Magazine, Lonely Planet, Canon Photo Plus Magazine, and Examiner.com as the LA Cultural Events Examiner for 6 years. Denise has also written many funny sketches over the years including a Comedic PSA Rap called "Just Say No" & a skit titled "Stereotype This" featured on her new SCENEarios Youtube channel and her old Funny Or Die Website. Denise also wrote a monologue called "The Broken Bottle" about alcoholism, wrote a poem called "The Washcloth" about abuse, "Man" about the homeless, "I Am America" about neglect. Over the years Denise created thousands of Official Sketch Cards for numerous Trading card sets including: The Walking Dead Comic Trading Cards Set 2 for Cryptozoic Entertainment, The Art Hustle Series 3, Topps Trading Cards (Star Wars, Mars Attacks, Clone Wars, Terminator Salvation, Indiana Jones), Official Pix (Star Wars), Breygent Marketing (Woodstock), Sadlittles (Femforce, Dreamers Of Darkness, Rantz Angels), and 5 Finity Productions (Zombies Vs. Cheerleaders, Archie Comics). Creating all of these sketch cards led Denise to coming up with the concept & Co-Authoring "Sketch Card Mania" (Penguin Randomhouse/Impact Books/F&W Media) with Randy Martinez. "Sketch Card Mania is a DIY "How to" art book offering how to draw art lessons, showcases a wonderful variety of styles & artists in each medium, demonstrations on how to make your own personal Sketch Cards, and advice & tips how to promote yourself, and how to find work in the industry. One of Denise's biggest honors as a writer was being invited to be THE FIRST guest blogger on Stan Lee's sites!
As a Host, Denise Vasquez has been speaking on panels, doing demo presentations and hosting events (both live & on camera) since 1999. Denise Vasquez proudly Hosted & Presented WO+MEN 4 APPLAUSE Variety Shows featuring the top talented WO+MEN working in the entertainment industry helping to shine the light on some of the Best WO+MEN Entertainers performing comedy, music, dance, spoken Word and more! Denise Vasquez also Presented, Hosted & Promoted Music Mondays Open Mic night weekly where a variety of talent had the opportunity to shine in the spotlight. Over the years Denise has hosted "Ladies Night Music Festivals I-VI" (St. John, US Virgin Islands), "Social Butterfly Night I & II" (Hollywood, CA), WO+MEN 4 A CAUSE (Various events at Various Locations), and Co-Hosted special events at The Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood including "VH1 Save The Music”with Shane Tucker, Hosted "Acoustic Wednesdays " & Bingo Night at El Guapo Cantina & much more. Denise has also been an invited guest to moderate, speak and perform on panels showcasing her knowledge, talents, and specialties including: Organizing & Moderating “Self Promotion For Artists”, and ”Tricks Of The Trade" Panels at San Diego Comic Con & Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo; Demonstrating painting techniques on MTV and at Holbein USA during San Diego Comic Con, One on One Live Streamed "How To Session" At San Diego Comic Con on "Being A Professional Artist", "The Art Of Self Promotion" panels at Shevacon (Virginia), DragonCon (Atlanta), Demoing & Performing for Daisy Rock Guitars at The NAMM Show (Anaheim), Demoing and performing for Audix Microphones at The NAMM Show (Anaheim), panels about "Sketch Card Mania" book and more! Other events include: JediCon (Germany), Comicpalooza (Texas), Chicagoland Entertainment Collectors Expo (Chicago). Denise lives to share, create and inspire in a positive light, bringing you along on her journey.
As an artist & Designer, Denise's love for creating all things geek have become widely known in the Star Wars Universe & beyond. Denise has created her own original characters over the years, but Denise is best known for designing her glow in the dark, day of the dead style Star Wars art. She designed and created a glow in the dark day of the dead style “Arturito” for Sideshow Collectibles R2ME2 project exhibited at San Diego Comic Con, designed the Day of The Dead style Vader T-shirt & Day of the Dead style Boba Fett Tank Top for "Her Universe" (also available at Hot Topic & Disney), her glow in the dark FRANKENVADER Helmet won 1st place for in Halloweencostumes.com Vader Helmet Contest, her glow in the dark Dia De Los Muertos Vader Helmet & vinyl dolls for the "Art From A Galaxy Far Far Away" Gallery show, and her Avatar Trooper Helmet for the 501st Legion TK Helmet Project auctioned for Make-A-Wish during Star Wars Celebration V. All of the work Denise has designed & created over the years has gained her a lot of attention worldwide. Denise has received a lot of press & her art has been featured in the media on: Reuters, BBC, CNN.com, Wired, Huffington Post Arts, Slashfilm, MTV Geek, HerUniverse.com, HotTopic.com, StarWars.com, MTV.com, Nerdist News, Patron Of The Arts, Stan Lee's Websites, The Mary Sue, io9, Edge On The Net, Music Connection Magazine, Arts Avenue, Geek Shirts HQ, Daily Trojan, Comic Attack, Forcecast, Theforce.Net, Galacticbinder, MintinBox.net, ToysREvil, Angry Koala Gear, Following The Nerd, Poparitaville & more! Since 2007, Denise has customized a number of recognizable vinyl toys for companies, private commissions and celebrities including the Stan Lee Custom Vinyl munny dolls for Stan Lee, also featured in Morgan Spurlocks' Book "Comic Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" on page 89 with Stan Lee. MTV Geek invited Denise to paint a celebrity during San Diego Comic Con 2012, so she chose to live paint custom vinyl munny dolls of Anthony Bourdain while he was being interviewed on MTV. Two of her Conan O'Brien custom vinyl munny Dolls (Conan O'Brien & His Horny Teddy & The Glow in the Dark Flaming C") were featured in Conan O'Brien's "COCO MOCA" Museum Of Conan Art on Team Coco's website. Denise designed & created the "Steve Sansweet" Mighty Mugg for Lucasfilms' "The Empire Muggs Back project, which now happily resides in the Rancho Obi Wan Art Gallery with other Star Wars art by Denise. Her custom vinyl toys have also been displayed & on consignment at Kidrobot LA, and she has also created custom vinyl toys for many clients including: Comedian Donnell Rawlings, DKE Toys/Adfunture (Yoka Tour), Angry Koala Gear, 3Coconutmonkey, Bean Pot Toiz, Vinyl Thoughts 2, Hold Up Art Gallery, Chuck Jones Gallery & more!
As a photographer, Denise received The Inspired Creators Award for her ongoing project, The Disabled Photographer Project, was featured on the landscape photography podcast, Then Wait Podcast, featured on Yucca Valley Film Festival Panel and selected in the art exhibit during the festival, appeared on the Portland Art Museum panel: Claiming Connection: Cultivating a Relationship with Place as Disabled Artists, had her own gallery and gift shop in Joshua Tree, was selected for the San Diego Fair Photography Exhibition two years in a row, has been exhibited in the Ventura Museum Pavillion, MK Gallery, and has been published in PROMOTE Magazine, National Geographic Yourshot, Canon Photo Plus Magazine, Canvas Rebel, SD Voyager, About Town Magazines, Examiner, Quadro Magazine, Malvie Magazine, Dreamy Magazine, Edith Magazine, 6X Blush Magazine and more!