by Jeff Clark, Staff Writer

BAY ST. LOUIS (GG) — Comic and Producer Gina Gomez has had great success bringing comics such as Mary Ryan Brown and Andy Huggins to Bay St. Louis. Gomez brings the funny once again with a show on Saturday at The Loft, featuring headliner Caroline Picard.

“The headliner is Craoline Picard from Lafayette,” Gomez said. “When I first started doing comedy in 2013, I was asked to open a show for Caroline, but she signed a contract with Carnival and wasn’t able to do the show. I’ve been wanting to work with her for a year. She worked for Carnival Cruise Line for 10 years. She’s been doing comedy for like 30 years. She’s so kind and gracious, and she has a following from her time on the cruise ship who travel to her shows. She’s so great to us up-and-comers. She’s just hilarious. She’s epic.”

Gomez, who spent the summer in the Bay when she was younger, started doing standup in New Orleans in 2013.

“I made many connections in that area,” she said. “At the time, House of Blues was doing an amazing open mic comedy night on Tuesdays. All of these great comics, like Darrell Hammond from SNL, were popping up in New Orleans. And there were these great captive audiences, and you got to test your material on those audiences on Tuesdays. I met a ton of people because that was the place to go. I made many contacts during the days of the House of Blues. Those connections from so long ago are so supportive and uplifting. I’ve met a lot of new comics doing my shows in Bay St. Louis.”

Gomez said The Loft shows she produces and hosts have been so successful that she brings them with different lineups as often as she can.

“I work around their schedule because they stay booked,” she said. Mt family had a camp house in Hancock County, and we would spend the summer there, and I have such great memories about the Bay. It’s so school that The Lft came to be because I would spend my summers there. It’s come full circle by me bringing comedy shows back to Bay St. Louis.”

(Photo courtesy of Caroline Picard who headlined the GG 504 Comedy Tour Saturday at The Loft in Bay St. Louis. Mississippi resident Tee Ray Bergeron will also be on the bill. Tickets are $18 and are available at  eventbrite.com.)