Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian Shaun Eli Stand-up Comedy for Events
Shaun Eli is a clean corporate stand-up comedian who performs smart comedy for corporate events, financial institutions, theaters, charity fundraisers, churches & synagogues, and virtual shows. Featured in The New York Times and on Amazon Prime and Netflix.
- Profiled in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Christian Science Monitor and other major publications
- Featured on Amazon Prime, Netflix and CNN.com
- Joke writer for the monologues of three late-night network TV hosts and for corporations
- His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Post and on TV
- Tours with Armed Forces Entertainment
- Wharton graduate, with 10+ years experience working in finance before comedy
Shaun Eli has been a pro comedian since 2003 and he has headlined shows on six continents. His clean, clever comedy makes him a favorite for corporate events, theaters, and fundraisers. Companies, associations, conferences, and nonprofits hire Shaun for clean, smart comedy.
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About Shaun Eli “It’s my job to make you forget how much you hate your job!”sm
Stand-up comedian Shaun Eli has rightfully been called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or successfully fighting a parking ticket in criminal court, master storyteller Shaun Eli shows you that there’s hilarity in the ordinary if you approach life with a comedic warp. Job interviews? How about the Ten Commandments? For just about anything he’s experienced he has hilarious stories at the ready. With a sense of humor that’s both cheerful and universal Shaun has headlined shows on six continents. He tours with Armed Forces Entertainment, where he has performed in such war-torn hell-holes as Curacao and The Bahamas. He starred in “The Ivy League of Comedy Live from the Emelin Theatre” on Amazon and in seasons 1 & 2 of QuickLaffs on Netflix. Shaun has been a professional comedian for more than 20 years and has 30 years of professional comedy-writing experience.
(Some) UPCOMING SHOWS
Some FAQs
Do you perform clean, corporate-friendly comedy?
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Absolutely. I perform clean, corporate-friendly comedy; check out my Corporate Comedy page. When event planners hire me, Shaun Eli, they see that my comedy is a great fit for corporate and professional audiences. It's clean, smart, and appropriate for corporate and industry events. I worked in finance for twenty years and I majored in marketing and economics at Wharton. I'm also great for shows at houses of worship, especially for synagogues and churches (I'm Jewish and I also have some great jokes for church audiences).
Why hire a clean comedian for corporate events?
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A clean comedian is a must for a corporate or industry event or a charity fund-raiser. Why would you risk offending your attendees with inappropriate topics or language? I used to work as a risk manager, so avoiding risk is always on my mind. And why hire a comedian in the first place? There is almost nothing that's more fun than laughing! There are also health and business benefits to laughing, which I highlight on my Shaun Eli's Corporate Comedy page.
What types of events do you specialize in?
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I perform at corporate events, conferences, awards dinners, theatres & performing arts centers, fundraisers, country clubs, houses of worship and private parties. I have a finance background so I'm especially good for events in the financial industry (Wall Street, banking, insurance). Whether you need a performer or a host/emcee, I bring polished, professional comedy that fits the tone of your event.
Do you travel for events?
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Yes, of course. I regularly perform across the U.S. and internationally. I've headlined shows on six continents. I try to make it easy for you, quoting a flat fee that includes my travel costs built-in.
How far in advance can or should we book a corporate comedian?
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Corporate and fundraising events often book several months ahead, but last-minute dates are often available. I've booked events two years out, and I've booked shows the day before. If you have a last-minute need, ask me (Shaun Eli). If I'm not available, I can recommend colleagues who would be best for your event. If you have a specific date in mind, reach out. I'm happy to hold a date while we work out the details.
What makes your comedy a good fit for corporate audiences?
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I'm Shaun Eli and here's why my comedy is a good fit for corporate audiences: I bring decades of experience performing for Fortune 500 companies, industry associations and professional groups. My comedy is intelligent, relatable, and free of the risks that make some comedians a poor fit for corporate settings. I worked in finance for twenty years and majored in marketing and economics at Wharton, so you get a seasoned performer who understands businesses and business audiences.
Stand-up comedy is great for team-building. It's not trust-falls, opening up about yourself, or escape rooms that could just as easily lead to conflict as co-operation. Stand-up comedy is a shared, fun experience that doesn't require anyone to do anything but sit and laugh.
Are you a good comedian for a pharmaceutical, medical or healthcare industry event?
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Yes, I'm Shaun Eli, and I'm an experienced comedian for health care industry events. I've performed for pharmaceutical companies including Novartis and Novo Nordisk, and my finance/business background (Wharton, plus years working in finance) makes me a strong fit for corporate and industry audiences. I keep everything clean and professional, so there's no risk of anything inappropriate at your event.
Here's an example of why I am confident about that. I was doing a show for a pharma company just a few days after they'd introduced one of the GLP-1 drugs. I had a self-deprecating joke about my weight, which I followed with "... but you have a drug for that now." It got a big laugh. Afterwards someone asked me how I even knew about the new drug. I said I was on your website and I read the most recent press release. I'd also read their annual report.
I have a science background. How many stand-up comedians subscribed to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report as a teenager? I also loved reading medical and scientific mysteries even as a kid, I regularly read the Journal of the American Medical Association (although I don't understand a lot of the articles), and I have a master's degree in applied positive psychology from Penn. Is that enough? I could go on, but you're probably like "I'm in a building full of MDs and biochemistry PhDs so you aren't impressing me."
Is stand-up comedy good for a charity fundraising event?
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Clean stand-up comedy is a great fundraising event. People may have different musical preferences, but a solid, mainstream, friendly comedy act appeals to just about everyone. I keep my comedy friendly- I'm Shaun Eli and I don't make fun of audience members (so no need to fear sitting in the front row), I don't tell jokes that are mean or bigoted or are based on negative stereotypes. I'm sensitive to your cause- obviously no cancer references at a cancer charity fundraiser.
The cost of hiring me for a non-profit event is much less than I charge for corporate events.
Comedy is easy to put on- all we really need is a place for me to stand, a sound system with a hand-held microphone, and a seated audience. Yes, a stage and stage lighting are nice to have, but they're not necessary.
With my two decades of comedy experience and my Wharton marketing education I can help you market your show, so you can have the biggest audience you could expect. Marketing a comedy show is different from selling a concert or other event- I know the techniques, because I've been using them for a long time.
Can you recommend a comedian for a retirement party?
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I'm Shaun Eli and I'm a good comedian for a retirement party. I'm clean, so my comedy is well-received by the older folks, and I worked in business for a long time before becoming a comedian, so I'm well versed in office culture.
I have a business degree, so even if I've never worked in your specific industry I may still have a good understanding of what you do. If we have a brief conversation and I get to ask some questions, I can put together a bit of custom material so you'll feel like the whole show is all about you (it doesn't make much).
Are you a good comedian for virtual shows?
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I would say absolutely yes, I am quite good at virtual stand-up comedy shows. To be frank, when comedians started performing virtual shows at the beginning of the pandemic, we found them difficult. Not actually being in the same room as the audience, having them be at home and in front of a computer, with all the distractions those things bring, plus time delays and not always hearing other people laugh (and often not even having their cameras and microphones on), presented a lot of challenges. But I put a lot of thought into it and figured out a lot of ways to improve virtual shows. More than just asking people to turn their cameras and microphones on, turn their phones off and keep their pets and children out of the room. I learned exactly how to modify my own performances to adapt them to make them optimal for virtual shows. I think that my personal comedy style, moving between stories and quick punchlines, followed by Q&A, is especially well-suited to virtual and corporate comedy shows.
“Positively Funny” is Shaun Eli’s new one-man show
What Shaun does
- Corporate stand-up comedy for professional events
- Comedy shows for theatres and performing arts centers
- Comedy shows to raise funds for charities including houses of worship
- Humorous keynote speeches (no strong message, just strong comedy)
- Comedy for country clubs and other organizations, and for private parties
Corporate Comedy
Laughter is a shared experience that adds group cohesion. It’s great for team-building. Wharton-educated corporate stand-up comedian Shaun Eli is an expert at making people laugh with just his words. With over two decades of performing experience, he knows what types of humor are most appropriate for corporate and industry events, whether it’s a company party, an industry conference or an awards event or banquet.
Theatre Shows
Shaun Eli has been arranging and performing in shows for theatres and performing arts centers for two decades. He is a pro at producing shows for theatres, either solo shows or with hilarious colleagues. His written agreement is concise and written in plain English. And the technical requirements for comedy are easy- we just need a sound system and a seated audience.
Fundraisers
Shaun is an expert at performing in fundraising shows for charities and houses of worship. Having a comedy night is great for raising funds for your organization, and Shaun’s clients rave that he’s not just funny, but fun and easy to deal with. Studies show that getting people to laugh increases fundraising. Studies have also shown that people value experiences more than we value possessions. The pleasure we get from buying something new wears off very quickly but a pleasurable experience lives on in our memory. A comedy show is a great, fun experience! And Shaun is very affordable for non-profits!
Where Shaun does this
Shaun Eli performs all over the world. Based in the NYC area, he has headlined shows on six continents and has toured with Armed Forces Entertainment.
Some of Shaun’s major corporate and charity clients
Microsoft, Charles Schwab, Swiss Re, PPL Corporation, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, The US Army War College, Armed Forces Entertainment, The Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, numerous synagogues, Chabads, Jewish Community Centers, Jewish Federations, churches, charities, schools, theatres and performing arts centers, yacht clubs, golf & country clubs, and seniors groups. Plus many private clients.
Why book Shaun Eli?
Shaun isn’t just funny. He’s also easy to work with, affordable and helpful. His comedy is clean, appropriate and universal, and safe for your event. His humor is clever, not mean. He has headlined shows on six continents, has been featured in The New York Times and on Amazon, Netflix and WNBC TV plus the nationally-syndicated Joey Reynolds Radio Show. Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno has praised his comedy-writing. Shaun has over two decades of experience as a stand-up comedian, and even before that he was a part-time professional comedy writer. He is reliable and professional to work with. In addition, his shows can include a “backstage pass” allowing the audience to ask him questions at the end of the show.
Shaun has written articles and op-eds on comedy for several publications.
Shaun Eli majored in marketing and economics at Wharton and holds a master’s degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
More than a few testimonials
“Shaun Eli did an amazing job performing virtually for our department. He had us laughing from the start, engaging with the audience and kept us laughing the whole time. And after he finished he told us stories from his career and answered our questions, without ever stopping being entertaining. I imagine it’s not easy to make a small audience of only a dozen people laugh on a screen but he was wonderful!”
Mike Savage
Managing Director
Charles Schwab
“You were the most talked-about part of our group’s trip to NYC- everyone had such a wonderfully hilarious evening. We all appreciated your ability to interact with a very diverse audience, military officers and diplomats intermixed with New Yorkers and visiting tourists from all over, and still keep your material fresh, clever and relevant to everyone.
People who’ve made a career out of slogging through mud while under fire aren’t going to be offended by dirty words, but they still marveled at your friendly and professional ability to rock the room without the use of foul language or vulgar content. I would recommend you to any group seeking entertainment.”
Jiyul Kim
Colonel, U.S. Army
Director of Asian Studies
U.S. Army War College
“Shaun, Many thanks again! The team really enjoyed your performance and deeply appreciated the additional time you spent sharing your personal story and perspective.
Wishing you only success”
Jeremy Sohn
VP, Global Head of Digital BD&L, Partnerships, & Innovation
Novartis
“Shaun was SUPER. Not only did he do a phenomenal job emceeing our corporate function but with his corporate background he completely understood our complicated business and what we needed from an emcee for the launch of our unique event. And after the event he took the initiative to stick around and discuss the logistics with our participants so he could make suggestions to make the event even better the next time we do it.”
Kayvan Farzaneh
Senior Manager
VSC Consulting
“Shaun writes the kind of smart comedy I like to use in my opening monologue.”
Jay Leno
former host of The Tonight Show
“Dear Shaun,
Thanks so much for putting on such a great show at our church on Thursday afternoon. Everyone enjoyed it immensely! You are funny and you strive to make a connection with your audience. You asked questions beforehand to get an idea of the “personality” of your audience. You spoke about your Jewish heritage and upbringing. Then you made reference to the cross on the wall, which symbolizes a very important Jew to us. You very graciously held a question and answer session with us, at the end of your show. You also were so kind to stick around and talk with the two people in our group who are just starting out in comedy. You built a relationship with us and made us laugh.”
Thank you!
Karen Schmidt
Deacon
Hampton Presbyterian Church
“Shaun:
I want to thank you again for the wonderful set and for the post-performance Q&A session that you did for the FJMC virtual International Convention. We had a huge challenge when we decided to go with a virtual convention in how we were going to deliver entertainment to our 600 attendees. You made that process extremely easy. Your virtual stand-up comedy was hilarious and our members really loved hearing about your process and how the world of comedy works. All of your work made the event a huge success. The feedback we received from our members was all so positive and made the entertainment portion of the convention a huge hit.
I look forward to getting a chance to work with you again in the future – whether it be virtual or in-person.”
Douglas Segerman
Programming Chair
2021 Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs International Convention
“We had Corporate take a look at your agreement, some changes were made, but they wanted me to pass along they LOVED your humor and never laughed so hard working on a contract.”
Carla Brady
Manager of Resident Services
Erickson Living
“WE WERE THRILLED WITH THE SHOW. The word of mouth has been great… thanks again for bringing your talents to Sharon.”
Alan M-L Wager
Artistic Director
Sharon Playhouse
“Thank you again for being with us last night. The laughter you brought to the room, especially on such a difficult day, meant so much. It was a real gift to our community.
Last night was a great evening, and it meant a lot to have our community together, sharing some laughter at a time when that connection feels especially important.
Thanks again and all the best to you.
Shabbat Shalom,”
Marci Sturman
Director of Development
JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
(Note: The reference to it being a difficult day: This was a fundraising show for the Jewish Community Center on the same day as a terrorist attack on a nearby synagogue (non-fatal except for the attacker))
“Shaun is stupendous! We spent a little over an hour on the phone to come up with some jokes for my company’s e-commerce site. I was amazed at how quickly he thought of funny things for us to put on our website to keep it interesting and draw attention to our novel products. His comedy was not just about the products themselves- he even came up with a joke to boast about the low price we are charging. Shaun’s price for his expertise? Very fair and reasonable. Need original comedy for your business? Hire Shaun.”
Jacqueline von Edenberg
Founder & Chief Feline Officer
Scratch Out Scratchers, Inc.
But this is my favorite, even though their rules strictly prohibit my quoting the person by name (or even asking for a name)
“You’re wonderful! Bless you for coming! This is the first time in three months I’ve seen my wife smile.”
Husband of a cancer patient after a show at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Booking information
To hire clean comedian Shaun Eli anywhere in the world for your corporate or charity event, theatre or performing arts center, golf club, country club or yacht club event, industry conference, private party, community or alumni group or service organization start by asking! Advice is free. Call or text (914) it’s-funny (914) 487-3866 or email Shaun (at) BrainChampagne dot com.
Shaun is very responsive, usually within minutes or hours, and almost always the same day. Note that if he’s traveling internationally there may be a slight delay in his response due to time zone differences.
Solar-powered comedysm: Shaun’s office is 100% powered (electricity, air conditioning and some of the heat) by renewable energy.
Read about the Health and Business Benefits of Humor
Virtual Comedy Shows Using Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, GotoMeeting, et. al.
| (It would be odd to write this in anything but the first person) I have developed an expertise in delivering stand-up comedy virtually over the web. In my almost two decades as a comedian I’ve learned that every new medium requires different skills for performing stand-up comedy. Using the internet demands the ability to make people laugh while sitting still and not getting the same level of feedback as with a live, in-person audience. At the same time it’s a more intimate setting since the audience’s faces are only a foot from my eyes, and mine from theirs. That intimacy is a benefit as the audience feels more connected to the comedian. I frequently do post-show Q&A from the stage in live shows and the audiences love it- it’s like a backstage pass to a comedy show. With virtual shows it’s even more exciting. They feel so connected to the comedian that they’re more curious, more open and more thrilled to get their questions answered. And I like the Q&A, live or virtually, for a number of reasons. I learn what audiences are curious about. It gives me the opportunity to demonstrate being spontaneously funny. I have some stories that are fun and funny but not quite stand-up comedy, but which work great for Q&A. And it endears me to the audience- they feel like they’ve gotten to know me better and want me to come back- which of course is great for business. Whether using Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, GotoMeeting or other applications, doing shows virtually took some getting used to. It’s not just the comedian who needs to hear laughter. The audience also needs to hear other people laughing. That’s why TV sitcoms have laugh tracks. Research has shown that people are more comfortable laughing when they hear other people laughing. Comedy clubs benefit from low ceilings as the laughter echoes. With virtual shows you don’t get the same level of laughter. More importantly the time delay makes it more complicated. I learned to pause. Pause. Really pause. To wait for the laughter I know will come. Actually it’s already there, but it doesn’t come through the web for maybe a half-second to a second. And then when one or two people laugh, others hear them laughing and they start to laugh too. The laughter spreads. The same thing happens in a live, in-person show, just with a much, much shorter delay. A great benefit of a virtual show is cost-saving. When you hire a comedian you’re not just paying for a half-hour or so of comedy. You’re paying for all the travel time- Even if you’re only thirty miles away I have to allow time to get there, to check the set-up, to meet people… With a virtual show you’re just paying for me to sit down and talk. I can do several virtual shows a day, which saves your corporation or charity a lot of money. |
Mike Savage Managing Director Charles Schwab 
Wishing you only success” Jeremy Sohn VP, Global Head of Digital BD&L, Partnerships, & Innovation Novartis 
Shaun: I want to thank you again for the wonderful set and for the post-performance Q&A session that you did for the FJMC virtual International Convention. We had a huge challenge when we decided to go with a virtual convention in how we were going to deliver entertainment to our 600 attendees. You made that process extremely easy. Your virtual stand-up comedy was hilarious and our members really loved hearing about your process and how the world of comedy works. All of your work made the event a huge success. The feedback we received from our members was all so positive and made the entertainment portion of the convention a huge hit. I look forward to getting a chance to work with you again in the future – whether it be virtual or in-person.” Douglas Segerman Programming Chair 2021 FJMC International Convention |
We honestly did not know what to expect from a Zoom comedy show, and our entire congregation was thrilled beyond all expectations. Although we are in Montana, virtually all of our members are originally from the large cities on the East and West coast, and so are far from being “country bumkins” and understand quality entertainment.
When our religious leader first suggested that we have a remote comedy show for our most fun of religious holidays, to be totally honest, some of us had reservations.
We couldn’t have imagined that a virtual comedy show could be this much fun. The diverse mix of comedians you arranged for us made us realize that stand-up comedy can be universal when it’s done by experts, which you all clearly are. All four of you had us laughing non-stop right from the start. There was so much feedback after the show, all amazingly super-positive (excessive adjectives), that we want you back next year, hopefully in person – we look forward to welcome you to Big Sky country!!
Sincerely,”
William “Bill” Kantor
Treasurer (2015-2021)
Glacier Jewish Community
Flathead County, Montana
Marcy Eager Wolfson
Program VP
Hadassah of Oceanside, NY
I’m frequently asked how I got started in stand-up comedy.
Why does a man do anything? Because of a woman.
I was on a date and I guess I was entertaining because she asked why I wasn’t a comedian.
I said I had friends who were actors- and that while I like writing comedy I didn’t think I was made to be a performer.
She told me she’d just taken a stand-up comedy class and recommended I do the same. I went to a show put on by graduates of the class and they were funnier than I expected them to be.
So I took the class. Started performing stand-up comedy at night. Six years later I left my day job. And here I am.
Come see me; I’m sure you’ll agree I made the right decision.
And what happened to her? She got married and moved to New Jersey, so I think I won.
I’m also a gold-level (5 gallons) blood donor. (I want this on my website somewhere; I just didn’t know where else to put it…)
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