‘Welcome to the Show' wants to feel like hanging out with friends in their Lincoln Square basement
Derek Bish is hard to miss. Tall and jovial (he gave his height as 'a trim 6-foot-8,' and that's not far from the truth), his affable smile and good-natured laugh make him easy to spot in any room. The simplest way to find him, however, is to head over to The Getaway in Lincoln Square. Every other Monday, Bish can be seen onstage as the host of 'Welcome to the Show,' a Chicago-centric live talk show that he created.
'Welcome to the Show' has been filling the backroom of The Getaway since its first episode in the summer of 2024. Bish says the show's genesis sprang from a simple adage: 'Make what you want to see yourself.' The idea for a show spotlighting the best of Chicago art, entertainment, sports and culture had been brewing in his brain for months but it wasn't until December 2023 that he decided to make it happen. After declaring his New Year's resolution to 'host and start this show finally,' Bish pitched the idea to longtime friends Dave Halpern, Ross Dimun and Scott Spidale. The men had just taken ownership of the recently closed Grafton Pub and were in the process of converting it into The Getaway. The trio agreed to give him the backroom.
On June 17, 2024, the show premiered, featuring, among other guests, Cubs anthem singer John Vincent and Michelin-starred chef Christian Hunter. With no PR team or crew, Bish does all the booking himself, attributing his guest-related good fortune to his love of 'a kindly worded email.'
'I'll send random cold emails to people I think would enjoy it,' he says. So far, that approach has worked, as personalities as varied as Chicago comic Jamie Shriner, WGN host Ji Suk Yi and Empty Bottle co-owner Matt Ciarleglio have graced his stage over the last year.
'Stage,' however, may be a grand word for the room where the show takes place. Audience members pass through the dimly lit, mirror-filled main bar to slip through a black curtain. On the other side, a long, narrow room opens. Couches, ottomans and high-top tables fill the space, and, at the far end, two armchairs and a coffee table sit next to a working fireplace and sprawling hearth. It almost feels like walking into a talk show set up in someone's basement — which is exactly what Bish is going for.
'It's like a house party,' he says. 'The whole goal of the show is to feel like you know me already, and we're hanging out and I'm introducing you to some really fantastic artists that live in Chicago.'
Luis Romero is one of those artists. Romero has been an illustrator professionally for over 20 years; he was invited to the show after attending the 2024 Christmas edition as an audience member. The night of his appearance, he sold pins, drawings and patches from a table near the entrance. A regular on the convention circuit, Romero was featured in this year's Artist Alley at C2E2. Of the two events, Romero loves the intimate feel 'Welcome to the Show' provides. 'You get to meet a person and highlight what they're doing,' he says, in a way the 'flood of people' at C2E2 doesn't always allow.
That personal touch proliferates throughout the evening. Bish brings books from his own house for audience members to peruse. He decorates the interview space with his children's artwork. At a recent show, he and his wife Margaret Bish baked brownies for the crowd. Bish, who described himself as 'the only one in his family who's ever picked up a microphone,' opens the show with an endearingly rambling monologue that instantly sets the room — and his guests — at ease with his ability to lead the evening.
And just like no one would charge their friends to hang out, 'Welcome to the Show' is a free event. That way, Bish says, 'People get to save their money and they can spend it on the artist.'
Bish's commitment to supporting local artistry extends to Lincoln Square itself. Noting that shows are often seated to capacity, he admits 'quite a few' venues have approached him about relocating. 'I just don't want to do that yet,' he says. The show 'feels special in that neighborhood.'
As his audience grows, Bish aims to keep 'Welcome to the Show' a peaceful respite from the troubled outside world by reminding them of the culture, art, and joy in Chicago.
'It can feel daunting out there,' he said. 'There's just so much garbage going on. But in reality, every day we wake up, we wake up in a great city surrounded by great talented people.'
During the closing monologue of a recent episode, Bish echoed this sentiment. 'Now more than ever is a wonderful time to be open and vulnerable with each other,' he said. 'Don't be afraid of feeling good. It's OK to be happy. I promise.'
After a night at this show, it's hard not to be.
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