Corporate Comedy, Corporate Comedians, Event Entertainment & Funny Keynote Speaker

Clean Stand-up Comedian Shaun Eli for your Serious Corporate Event?

Hire a comedian? A humorous keynote speaker? Of course you should. Why wouldn’t you?

Corporate events should conclude with entertainment, in-person or virtual.

I’m a clean comedian and my performances avoid profanity, vulgarity, and offensive material while remaining energetic, interesting and genuinely funny. I’ve been profiled in The New York Times, I’ve headlined shows on six continents and I’ve performed on Amazon and Netflix. I have more than two decades of stand-up comedy experience. Before I was a comedian I worked in finance, and I went to Wharton.

I travel all over the world doing comedy and I love experiencing the different local food. And that applies to the U.S. too:

Ann Arbor Friday show opening with subtitles

I perform at corporate and industry events and conferences, theatres and performing arts centers, at fundraising events, at houses of worship, for military groups, and I’ve performed both in an embassy and in a barn. Yeah, I did a barn gig.

Book Shaun Now

    No matter how much your attendees love their work, 
    professional comedy entertainment will enhance your corporate event or conference.

  • Laughter is a shared experience that brings people together.
  • Because studies have shown that humor helps people retain what they’ve learned.
  • Because massive laughter at your event is like the fine wine or delicious dessert that helps you appreciate your gourmet meal even more.
  • Because there’s no rule that says that a closing keynote speaker for a corporate or industry event has to be serious.
  • Because studies have 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. It’s Brain Champagnesm!

    “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

    A terrible story with a happy ending. In early 2026 I was hired to headline a fundraising comedy show for a Jewish Community Center. I arrived early and got the horrible news. There had been a shooting at a nearby synagogue. We weren’t sure if we should go ahead with the show. They’d sold plenty of tickets but we didn’t know if anybody would even show up (my experience from living in New York on 9/11 taught me that when there’s a tragedy like this, people want to stay home with family, watching the news on TV even if it’s the same information over and over with nothing new). The good news was that the only fatality was the attacker, although a security guard was also injured. We decided to go ahead with the show, and that was the right choice. People needed to laugh, and we gave them exactly what they needed- a shared sense of community and something to be happy about. The event was a big success!

    During the pandemic I was hired to do a virtual show for a small department of a major financial firm, about a dozen people. Companies are sometimes unsure how virtual comedy will work, but I assure them I’m very experienced with it, and that I don’t do shows unless I’m certain they will work and that I’m a good fit for their audience (I often turn down a show if I think that comedy’s not right for their event, and if I’m just not the right comedian for them I’m happy to recommend a talented colleague who is). In this case the employees were a great, cohesive group, and the show was great. They had fun, I had fun, and in doing Q&A at the end- a staples of my performances- with my jokes they felt assured that their boss had their backs and really looked out for his people.

    With my business background and education companies are often surprised at how well I understand their business. A few years ago I did a show for a major pharmaceutical company, one that had just recently released one of the new weight loss drugs. I had a self-deprecating joke about my weight, and then threw in the line “Don’t you have a drug for that now?” They were surprised I knew about it, and loved that I incorporated their product into my act.

    How did I know about that new drug? I was prepared. I’d been on their website before the show and read the press release.


    Read about Health and Business Benefits of Humor and Corporate Comedy FAQs

 

Accounting humor stand-up comedy #Doctor vs. #Accountant (FYI the accountant wins) Shaun Eli

 

Is it appropriate to have comedy at your serious event?

That depends. Is the entertainer making balloon animals and singing silly song parodies? Or is he a hilarious Wharton-educated, award-winning economist & former bank vice president pleasing your corporate or industry audience with clean, smart standup comedy? Comedy that may include content specific to your industry. For example, it’s not just financial companies that use principles of risk management. So do stand-up comics!

Entertaining stories from the life of a comedian can show how he uses risk management to further his objectives and counter obstacles on the way to achieving his goals. I don’t have to, but I can include this in a keynote speech. I can even talk about a life lesson I learned from the review of a toilet plunger.

Top mistakes that some event planners make when hiring a comedian

 

What is a corporate comedian? What does a corporate comedian do?

A corporate comedian is a stand-up comedian whose material is not just clean but also appropriate for corporate events. He or she knows that what goes over at a comedy club isn’t necessarily suitable for a corporate conference or holiday party.

Who knows that no matter what someone might tell him at the event, making fun of the company or boss isn’t acceptable. Who acts professionally both on and off stage.

And who knows that ripped jeans, sneakers and t-shirts aren’t proper for your event.

Shaun has performed thousands of shows. He’s not a mainstream comedy club comic who tries to clean it up for corporate events. He’s a clean corporate and theatre comedian who has headlined shows on six continents, who has written monologue jokes for the hosts of three late-night TV shows and who has been profiled in numerous national magazines and major newspapers including The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Christian Science Monitor. He tours with Armed Forces Entertainment, where he performed in such war-torn hellholes as Curacao and The Bahamas. Before becoming a stand-up comedian Shaun worked in finance for twenty years, after receiving a degree in marketing and economics from Wharton. He has been a professional comedian for more than 20 years and has more than three decades of professional comedy-writing experience. Shaun also performs at charity fundraising events and at houses of worship. He holds a master’s degree in positive psychology. And he consults on comedy with corporations and political candidates, helping them use humor to sell products or win elections.

 

audience applauding for Shaun Eli at the Emelin Theatre
Shaun Eli at the Emelin Theatre in New York

Read testimonials (corporations, theatres, houses of worship and other charities, country clubs and more)
Read over a dozen newspaper and magazine articles about clean comedian Shaun Eli
See him live on stage or watch his videos

Many corporate and organizational conferences end with entertainment. Not just to make the conferences more fun and make people want to come back…people retain more if they’re entertained & enjoy themselves at an event.

For more information or to hire Shaun, email Shaun at BrainChampagne dot com
or call or text (914) it’s-funny (914) 487-3866

Adding comedy to your conference doesn’t just make it more fun,
it makes it more powerful.

Make your event
More powerful       More fun       More memorable       More talked-about
And make your attendees want to come back next year.


Some topics Shaun may cover in his corporate comedy performances

      • Creativity: Clever, maybe even sneaky, problem-solving
      • Quality
      • Tolerance & Adapting to others
      • Fighting the system to improve it
      • Drunk elephants
 

Health and Business Benefits of Humor

 

 

FAQs about Corporate Comedy, Corporate Comedians and Event Entertainment

How long will you/he/she/they perform for?

That’s mostly up to you. Comedians generally recommend no longer than a half-hour for a corporate event. Your attendees have probably already spent most of the day sitting around listening to other people talk. Twenty minutes can be fine. I can do well over 90 minutes if it’s appropriate. It rarely is.

What are the benefits of choosing a comedian for corporate entertainment or for a conference?

Your attendees have probably been sitting and listening to serious presentations all day. They need comic relief. Even serious movies have at least a joke or two to lighten the tension.

Studies have shown that laughter improves retention- people remember more when they’ve laughed. They will also have more positive memories of your event. And laughter is a common bond that will improve employee morale.
(Read specific scientific studies proving health and business benefits of humor)

At what point in the evening should we have the entertainment?

Towards the end- after dinner is best. It’s not great to have people eating and concentrating on food when they’re listening to a comedian. There’s no pause-and-rewind at a live show. Whether it’s before or after your speeches/awards presentation is up to you. Different comedians have different preferences.

Can the comedian write custom jokes for our group?

We can. Expect to pay extra for that, as writing jokes takes time. Especially jokes we can’t test out and hone over several comedy club performances.

But you don’t need custom comedy. If the comic can make a joke or two about your industry at the beginning, and maybe one more reference towards the end, the audience will leave thinking “Wow, that was all about us!”

How much does it cost to hire a corporate comedian?

There are a lot of variables that go into pricing a performance. More famous comedians are more expensive- and that level of fame might be important to you. But it doesn’t necessarily mean a better performance. There are a lot of super-hilarious comedians you’ve never heard of. Other variables that affect cost include the night of the week (weekends are generally more expensive), how many attendees are expected, how far the comedian has to travel and whether it’s a for-profit or charity event. So- the best way to find out is to ask!

Will the comedian’s act be dirty?

I sure hope not. You should absolutely, positively have a conversation about what you think is inappropriate before hiring a comedian for a corporate or charity event. I’m a clean comedian. I think comedians should know their audience. But what a non-clean comedian will probably say is, you hire me, you get me. You should know who I am.

I disagree with that, and if there’s a disappointment there’s fault on both sides. Avoid all that by discussing it in advance.

What is a corporate imposter?

A corporate imposter is someone introduced as a leading expert on something related to the company. But they don’t actually make sense. As they continue to get more and more ridiculous the audience is confused until they realize they’re being put on.
I don’t like this. To me it’s basically one long joke that’s making fun of the audience. I’ve been offered a bunch of money to do this and I’ve always turned it down.

What technical requirements do you have? Do you need a stage, a microphone, or a specific AV setup?

Absolutely a sound system. Even for a small group the microphone gives us a level of authority. A hand-held mic is best. Not one stuck to a lectern. A lavalier mic (the kind clipped to clothing) is not a great idea. We’ve all heard stories of someone who went to the bathroom and forgot to turn off their mic. Ideally also stage lighting and an elevated stage. I, Shaun Eli, don’t need any AV setup- it’s just me talking.

Can the comedian emcee the evening?

Most good comedians are experienced at emceeing events, from corporate conferences to charity fund-raising nights to awards banquets. Ask. I am. I emcee a lot of comedy shows and other events including corporate events.

Are there different types of comedians?

There are several ways to categorize comedians: clean/not clean, political/non-political. Impressionists. Musical acts. High energy/low energy. Physical comedians. One-liner comedians. Story-tellers. Observational comedians. My act is a combination of stories and short one-liner type jokes, plus some observational comedy.

Do comedians talk about politics? Will they offend our guests?

I don’t do political comedy unless there’s a specific reason to. I quickly learned that doing political material will turn off at least a third of the audience, and there’s really no reason for that. Of course if you’re hiring me specifically for a political event that’s a different story. I’ve written jokes for political candidates, and I’ve written jokes for a political website (that was very different from my own beliefs). I’ve also written political and non-political jokes for three late-night talk show hosts. But unless there’s a specific reason to, I do not get political on stage.

What’s the difference between a corporate comedian and a regular stand-up comedian?

A regular stand-up comedian may or may not be appropriate for a corporate event. A corporate comedian needs to be clean, and have a corporate-friendly act. For example, a comedian might be clean but his or her entire act might be about himself/herself, and might be entirely self-deprecating. That might go over well in a comedy club or even in a theatre, but it could make some corporate audiences uncomfortable.

How do I find a clean comedian for a company event?

You’re already here. Ask me!

What should I look for when hiring an entertainer for a conference?

Look at their videos, their testimonials and absolutely ask them as many questions as you want. I think you want to work with someone who cares enough about you and your event to spend time talking to you. FYI  I don’t really trust testimonials that don’t give you the person’s full name, company and title. If the testimonial just says “Joe G, Seattle, WA” why aren’t you getting their full name? Plenty of times I’ve asked for a testimonial after a great show but have been told it’s against corporate policy. You know what I do? I have plenty of other testimonials.

Is it worth hiring a comedian for a sales kickoff / holiday party / awards dinner?

That depends. Do you want your event to be fun? Elsewhere on this page https://www.brainchampagne.com/corporate-comedy there is a ton of information about why you should have a comedian at your event. Including a list of scientific studies about how making something fun helps people remember.

How do I know if a comedian will be appropriate for a corporate crowd?

Watch their videos, ask lots of questions, read their testimonials. And again, I don’t really trust testimonials that don’t give you the person’s full name, company and title. If the testimonial just says “Joe G, Seattle, WA” why aren’t you getting their full name? Plenty of times I’ve asked for a testimonial after a great show but have been told it’s against corporate policy. You know what I do? I have plenty of other testimonials.

What questions should I ask before booking a comedian?

I don’t have a specific list of recommended questions but I suggest you ask whatever you can think of.

Should I hire a local comedian or fly one in?

If you’re within driving distance of NYC or Los Angeles, you have a great selection of local comedians. Otherwise, well, most of us live in those two areas. I strongly suggest you get someone with more than a decade of experience, and who has done corporate events before. And someone who does this full-time.

What happens if the audience doesn’t respond well?

I sure hope that doesn’t happen. It shouldn’t. I did a show for a Jewish Community Center the same day as a shooting at a nearby synagogue (only the shooter was killed). We were all very worried about how it would go, but it went really well. People needed to laugh. And no, I didn’t mention the horrible tragedy, because I wanted people to focus on laughing. A good comedian should be able to figure out, if the audience isn’t responding to the first few jokes, why that is. And fix it. It’s possible the audience just isn’t listening. I’m not particular about my introduction- I just want it very short. But I do give specific instructions that the audience MUST be quieted down BEFORE I’m introduced. Because if they’re talking through the introduction then they won’t shut up for the performance. I discuss how we can make that work right. But not every comedian knows how to do this.

How do I book a comedian for our annual conference?

I’m a good comedian for a corporate conference because I have 20+ years of corporate work experience plus a Wharton education.

 

Who is a good comedian who can close out a multi-day conference?

Single day or multi-day doesn’t really matter. You want a comedian who has experience performing for corporate groups. Someone like me.

 

Is a comedian a good way to end a conference on a high note?

A comedian is a fabulous way to end a conference. Your attendees will leave laughing, will be talking about the event fondly for days, weeks or months, and they’ll want to come back to the next one.

 

Is having a comedian for a hospital gala appropriate given the setting?

Well, it depends on the comedian. If it’s someone experienced with corporate and charity events, then yes. I’m an experienced performer when it comes to corporate and charity events.

 

How do I find a comedian sensitive to illness-related humor for a healthcare event?

A corporate comedian can do this. Just make sure to discuss any guidelines, ground rules or concerns you might have, before you book the comedian. As both a person and entertainer I’m sensitive to illness-related humor.

 

Who is a good comedian for nurses week or doctor appreciation event?

I’m a good comedian for this. I have a story about taking a nursing course in college, and I have doctor jokes.

 

Is stand-up comedy appropriate at a medical conference?

Sure it is. After spending a day on serious medical issues, won’t your attendees welcome laughter?

 

Some questions more specifically for Shaun Eli

Is your material clean/family-friendly, or edgier?

My material is clean/family-friendly. Not edgy. I’d say it’s clean and clever, corporate-friendly and written for a corporate audience.

Can you tailor jokes to our industry, company, or specific people in the room?

I can tailor jokes to your industry or company, but you really don’t need a lot of that. And frankly, after sitting all day through a conference that’s all about your company and industry, your audience probably wants to hear someone talk about something else. I don’t make fun of people in the room- that’s probably not want you want. Your CEO may be smart enough and thick-skinned enough to not let it show, but most people really don’t want to be made fun of. Oh, and with my business background I may know more about your industry and company than you realize. I might even read your annual report to learn more.

Do you do crowd work, or is it all scripted?

Mostly it’s material written in advance and honed over dozens or hundreds or thousands of shows. But depending on circumstances and the layout of the room, there may be some crowd work.

Can you avoid topics like politics, religion, or anything that might offend a mixed audience?

I specifically do avoid those sorts of topics. That said, I may, depending on circumstances, talk about my own religion, but not in a rude way and certainly not in a way that perpetuates bad stereotypes. I very much dislike comics who do that.

Do you need a deposit, and what’s your cancellation policy?

As is the industry norm, I ask for a 50% deposit. I’m very flexible with rescheduling, and I am reasonable and sensitive when it comes to a client who needs to cancel.

Can we see video of a past corporate (not just club) performance?

That’s complicated because, though I like to record my sets, doing it at a corporate event can be awkward. I think that if you review the videos I make available, many of which are from charity events and theatre shows, you will be comfortable with my style. I have a ton of content online.

Do you carry liability insurance?

I don’t generally carry liability insurance, because I’m just a guy standing on a box talking into a stick. I’m not a band with complicated equipment and obviously no pyrotechnics. If you for some reason do need insurance, we can work that out. Often you can add me to your policy for the event, or I can buy insurance. On the rare occasions when I’ve been asked for insurance I’ve either bought a policy (for example Armed Forces Entertainment requires it for their tours, but they pay for it) or I’ve been added to the venue’s policy.

Will you rehearse jokes about our company/execs with us beforehand?

I really don’t want to make jokes that make fun of your company or executives. But I can, and have, run jokes by someone beforehand. I have a joke that talks about a Hindu girlfriend. To be clear, it doesn’t make fun of her religion. If anything it makes fun of people who are NOT Hindu. I showed up at an event and, judging by the appearance of the people in the room, there were probably a lot of Hindus there. I said to the guy who’d hired me (the head of the company) I guess I’m not doing my Hindu joke. He insisted I tell him the joke, he LOVED it, so I told it. And yes, the rest of the audience did too.

What happens if a joke doesn’t land or offends someone?

Not every joke hits with every audience, and a good comedian has plenty of saver lines that usually work well. I have several and it almost sometimes seems like I wanted a joke to fail just to get a laugh from the saver line. FYI No, I’d rather not have to. As far as offending someone, anyone can be triggered by anything. A joke that makes fun of McDonald’s could upset someone who got food poisoning there, or someone who had a horrible experience working there as a child. But I try very hard to ensure that there’s little in my act that would offend someone, absent these sorts of specific circumstances.

Can we review material in advance?

Sorry, not really. I never send out my jokes in print and I don’t share an entire set with anybody. It’s too risky- we never know what someone might do with our video. Musicians are different- people want to hear their songs over and over. But for comedians it’s much more complicated- once someone’s heard a joke, the surprise is gone. I already have a ton of video on line for you to review. I even put up stuff that didn’t work well, with comments.

How far in advance do we need to book you?

Typically I’d say three months out is good, but I’ve booked events two years in advance and I’ve booked shows the day before the event.

What do you charge?

It really depends on when, where, for whom and how many. If you give me that information I can give you a quote pretty quickly, although if it involves travel I’d need to look into airfare. I prefer to give you an all-in quote that includes my travel expenses, so there are no surprises. Yes, this passes some risk onto me, but it does make it easier for you.

 

How responsive are you?

I check my email a zillion times a day. If I’m traveling overseas and there’s a big time difference, it might not be the same day. Usually it’s within hours, and sometimes five minutes.

How will you dress for our event?

When I started in comedy someone told me that a comedian should dress at least as well as the audience. I agree. If the audience is in suits then a guy showing up in torn jeans and sneakers looks out of place.

I generally wear a dress shirt, sports jacket and dark jeans. That’s usually enough to blend in, but if you are all wearing suits and ties (or the female equivalent) and you think I should too, you should tell me that in advance. I own more than enough clothing.
And here’s something I discovered from working in comedy clubs, something that most comedians haven’t figured out: If a comedian dresses even a little bit better than the other comedians, even boots, a polo shirt and nice jeans vs. sneakers, a t-shirt and lighter-colored jeans, he gets heckled/interrupted/talked back to much, much less frequently (I say ‘he’ in this case because I haven’t done the research to see if this is true for women too, but few female comics dress sloppily on stage).

Can or will you make fun of our CEO?

My thought on this is that it’s very rarely a good idea. You may think your CEO is a good sport but very few people like being made fun of. If the CEO wants to appear approachable then he should be self-deprecating. Don’t hire someone to make fun of him.

(I say he/him because studies have shown that male bosses who are self-deprecating are seen as more approachable, but female bosses who are self-deprecating are sometimes seen as weak. And please don’t shoot the messenger.)

Can you perform for virtual events?

I can and do perform virtually and I’m quite good at it. During the pandemic I did a lot of virtual events for corporations and charities, and I got quite good at it. It requires changes from an in-person performance. I figured out what they were, and adapted my performance accordingly. Some comics, maybe most comics, don’t like virtual events. I enjoy them.

How do we contact you?

You’re already on my website! Email Shaun at BrainChampagne.com, or text or call (914) 487-3866 (call after 10 AM NY time).

Bring corporate comedian Shaun Eli to your conference or event.
For much less than you thought possible.
Book him without any hidden agency or speaker fees. Get all the credit for hiring a comedian at a great price.

Email: Shaun at BrainChampagne dot com
Call or text (914) it’s-funny (914) 487-3866 for more information.

 

Executive Summary

Why would you hire a comedian for your serious corporate event? Comedy is like the fine wine or dessert that improves your meal. Laughter is a shared experience that brings people together. And because studies have shown that people value experiences more than possessions. Give people a memorable experience and you’ll be in their good graces! What does a corporate comedian do? Read this web page and learn more.

More information: Intelligent corporate comedy: information on how to hire corporate comedians

Some specific web pages for various cities or regions:

Clean Comedian Utah

Clean Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for Government and Corporate Entertainment Washington, DC

Corporate Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker Philadelphia

Clean Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for Connecticut- Stamford, Greenwich, Fairfield, New Haven and all the other places that aren’t those places

Clean stand-up comedian for corporate or charity fund-raising events in Providence Rhode Island

Clean stand-up comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for Boston Massachusetts for corporate or charity shows

Corporate Clean Stand-up Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for Charlotte, NC

Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian for Syracuse, NY

Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian for Albany

Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for Wilmington

Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian for Buffalo

Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian for Harrisburg

Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian for Scranton

Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian for Rochester

Clean Corporate Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for Allentown

Clean Corporate Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for Springfield

Clean Corporate Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for York, PA

Clean Corporate Comedian and Funny Keynote Speaker for Baltimore

Jewish Comedy, a Comedian for Jewish organizations and events

Church Comedy, a comedian for church events

Comedian for charity fundraising events

Stand-up comedian for senior citizens, seniors groups and 55+ communities