Before Spencer Wright was performing stand-up in comedy clubs, he was already making crowds laugh. The only difference? No one could see his face.
Wright, who graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, spent part of his time at UM behind one of the most recognizable faces on campus: Sebastian the Ibis.
“I love UM and was extremely loud about it,” Wright said. “My friends made me audition so I could have a way to show school spirit, while also not being allowed to talk.”
His first appearance in the suit was at a pep rally at the Ratskeller in 2015, where former Sebastian, John Routh, watched from the crowd.
“He told my boss, ‘he needs to work on his walk, but he’ll figure it out,’” Wright said.
And so he did.
Without relying on speech or facial expressions, Wright learned how to get a reaction from a crowd through movement alone, whether that meant dancing, eating popcorn or kicking his feet up at The Rat.
“I learned how to be animated and get laughs through just act-outs,” he said.
Some moments, though, he could never have planned.
During homecoming, NFL Hall of Famer and Miami Hurricanes legend Ed Reed put Sebastian in a headlock.
“He whispered in my ear, ‘You’re a legend Sebastian, don’t forget it,’” Wright said. “You can’t tell Ed Reed no, so I just nodded and saluted him.”
After graduation, the bird suit came off, but the performer underneath remained.
Wright began posting comedy sketches in 2020, gaining millions of views across social media. He has since performed stand-up around the country while growing his audience through TikTok and YouTube.
The transition from performing anonymously in an ibis costume to standing alone onstage may seem drastic, but to Wright, the two versions of himself are not that different.
“I think Sebastian was my own personality, but just at 200%,” Wright said. “Now in stand-up, it is still me, just at 150%.”
Before playing Sebastian, Wright said he was interested in performing but never had the confidence to pursue it fully.
Those years inside the costume turned out to provide more than just school spirit. Wright credits Sebastian with giving him the skills and confidence that pushed him to pursue stand-up.
“After portraying the best mascot in college sports, doing stand-up felt easy,” Wright said. “I wouldn’t be a comedian if it wasn’t for Sebastian.”
Sebastian allowed Wright to do what he loves while keeping his face hidden.
In the process, he gained the confidence to show it.