Local boy doing good: Aaron Shapiro.
Credit: Chris Headshots
If you’ve been to a Florida Panthers game, an FAU Owls football showdown or a packed night at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, you’ve likely heard this emcee’s booming voice before you spotted the towering frame it belongs to.
That’s Aaron Shapiro - South Florida-born speaker, emcee and comedian who grew up bouncing between Broward cities and now calls Miami home.
Born at Plantation General, Shapiro says that Broward is his “home ground,” even if he’s currently posted up in the 305 with skyline views of Brickell and Key Biscayne. His parents met at a literal tall-people meetup in Miami. Yes, really. The height checks out.
“I was always the class clown,” Shapiro tells Browardist. “If it wasn’t for sports, I probably wouldn’t have graduated high school.” By 14, he was already 6-foot-6, which meant baseball, soccer and basketball weren’t optional, but destiny. After earning a scholarship to Broward College, a torn ACL and meniscus ended his basketball career and quietly redirected his life toward entertainment.
At FAU, after bouncing majors and re-enrolling post-injury, he took improv classes and started producing his own radio and video content when traditional hosting roles wouldn’t give him a shot. He emailed the university every two weeks asking for an opportunity. The answer was always no until it wasn’t.
Called in last-minute to host a basketball tournament, Shapiro showed up with shaking note cards and left with advertisers praising his clarity and humor. Before accepting what would’ve been an internship, he formed Aaron the Speaker, LLC and negotiated his own contract.
“I realized I don’t have to be just a standup comic,” he says. “People need entertainment. They need someone who can talk about their brand, bring people together and make it not boring.”
That realization has turned into a full-fledged career. Last year alone, Shapiro logged 147 contracted events, not counting his comedy shows. From emceeing Panthers’ home games to Hard Rock stages to corporate gigs across the country, he’s become one of the region’s most consistent, if quietly relentless, voices.
His approach is equal parts hustle and self-reflection. He journals daily, tracks his wins and misses and actively pursues new work. “No one’s waking up trying to pay my mortgage,” he says. “It’s up to me to hunt it down.”
Next up? A book, Walking Contradiction (working title), chronicling his unconventional path, and a self-produced comedy special he hopes to release in early 2027.
For booking information and upcoming appearances, visit instagram.com/aaronthespeaker.
