Orlando comedian Blake Butler has taken over hosting duties for the Wednesday night open mic at Bull & Bush Pub in Orlando’s Milk District, a staple of the city’s comedy scene for more than a decade.

Butler, who began performing stand-up as a teenager and has been active for 10 years, was invited by the bar staff to take the reins on May 26, just in time for him to helm the mic on May 28. Butler said when asked, he immediately accepted.

The weekly open mic had previously been hosted by comedian Ross McCoy, who also ran the Saturday night mic. The Wednesday show has been a continuous presence in the local comedy circuit. McCoy recently announced he would step away to focus on other projects. Aimee LeCours will take over the Saturday showcase, Shit Sandwich.

Butler called the new gig a “spur-of-the-moment thing” and said he hasn’t planned any changes. One feature he intends to keep is the “bucket full system,” where comics drop their names into a bucket to be drawn at random, as opposed to signing up in order of arrival.

Comedian Lisa Rod-Davis called the decision to bring in Butler “a great move,” citing his long-standing presence in the Orlando comedy scene and his understanding of the room’s energy.

“He’s not judgmental; he’s super welcoming,” Rod-Davis said. “He knows how to manage the flow and keep the show going, especially for newer comics.”

She added that what sets Bull & Bush apart is its audience. Unlike many open mics where the crowd is mostly other performers, this room draws people who come specifically to watch comedy. That dynamic, she said, makes it a valuable space for developing skills like crowd work.

Butler praised the atmosphere of the Bull & Bush room, describing it as “super intimate” with crowds who are generally there for the comedy. On a typical Wednesday, the night draws 20 to 25 comics and between five and 20 audience members, he said.

Bull & Bush has personal significance for Butler. Early in his career, it was often the first stop on a two-show night, after which he and fellow comedians would drive to Daytona Beach for a second mic. That practice, he noted, still continues among local comics, especially on Tuesdays.

Butler will continue to host the Tuesday mixed mic at Falcon Bar & Gallery, a distinctive venue in Orlando's Thornton Park neighborhood. The mic welcomes poets, musicians and comedians.

Butler called Orlando a “great training ground” for comics, with a wide range of showcases and open mics that attract different types of audiences. “They all serve a purpose,” he said.

The Bull & Bush Pub is located at 2408 E. Robinson St. in Orlando.