Performances on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and Comics Come Home, and opening for Aretha Franklin are little resume builders for Kevin Bozeman.

So are performances on CBS’s Star Search and HBO’s Comedy Competition.

Tonight, an Eastern performance will be added to the list.

Mike Usher, chair of the University Board comedian committee, chose Bozeman out of a crowd of comedians that performed at the National Association for Campus Activities conference. Usher said it was Bozeman’s performance at the conference that motivated UB to book him for Eastern.

“He [Bozeman] was really funny at the conference and I talked to his agent and he does really well with college crowds,” Usher said.

Not only does UB find comedians to come to Eastern at this conference, but many UB members go to the conference and book lectures and other acts.

“They have a lot of showcases like sketch comedy groups for Up All Night, comedians, and so on,” said Usher.

Student Life graduate assistant Amy Baumgart said she really liked Bozeman at the NACA regional conference. Baumgart works with the UB in getting comedians to come here.

“We thought he would add diversity to the comedians we already had lined up since Bozeman is an African-American,” she said, “We wanted to be able to appeal to different groups of people.”

Baumgart believes diversity in the comedic acts will encourage a larger turnout of students.

The show with John Mulaney in January went over really well and the 7th Street Underground was packed with students, Baumgart said.

“We think that Kevin has the same potential,” she said.

Bozeman has traveled all across the country to a majority of the 50 states. He said that it gets a little tiresome some days, but he likes it and that it is better than having a nine to five job.

“I just like to have a good time and I get a good response from most of the crowds that I go to,” he said, “I am very excited to come to Eastern.”

He is set to perform tonight at 9 p.m. in the 7th Street Underground.

Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or at haholm@eiu.edu.