How to Book a Comedian or Comedians
How to Hire a Clean Corporate Comedian
Choosing and Hiring Comedians,

To hire a comedian, there are companies that specialize in booking comedians and they're easily found on the web. The disadvantage is that bookers/speakers bureaus keep a lot of the fee for themselves. Not 10% like you may think. Often a third to half. Yes, HALF.

You can almost always save a lot of money by approaching a comedian directly. We're also on the web. The advantage to a comedian of using a booker is that it's someone to take care of a lot of the arrangements. And beware of this- there are folks on the internet who make it look like they're the agent for a lot of comedians when they're not. They're very good at internet marketing so if you do a Google search for someone's agent they come up first.

An agent is supposed to act in the client's best interest (for 10%). But these booking services don't have that restriction- they will charge you as much as they can, pay the talent as little as they can, and keep the (often vast) difference. They do add value- the comics are okay working with them because they take care of a lot of details. But you may be paying a lot for that.

Shaun Eli can speak to you directly and take care of the details directly with you (I have a planning checklist and a pre-show set-up brochure I email). My twenty years of prior business experience are an asset to my performing at your event. And I'm not greedy. My phone/text number is (914) It's Funny (914 487-3866).

The first thing to figure out is what you're looking for: a Master of Ceremonies to keep the festivities moving? Or 10-90 minutes of hilarious stand-up comedy entertainment for a corporate or fundraising event or private party? A good corporate comedian may be skilled at both– but they are very different skills. An emcee's job is to be likable, cheerful and outgoing. To provide focus and continuity. To keep the event fun, smooth and on schedule. And in the event that something goes wrong? Misdirection or comic relief to take attention off the problem and return the audience's focus to the event. A comedian's job is to make people laugh. A lot.

Before you book a corporate standup comedian for an event, company or conference, start with figuring out what you want. While a comedy club or theatre comedy show may feature two or three (or more) comedians, a corporate comedy show is typically one professional comedian performing for 20-30 minutes. Whether virtual or in-person, that should be sufficient for your audience to have fun and have fond memories of your event. They will be talking about it for days afterwards.

When you call or email the comedian, ask what technical requirements they might have. I would suggest evaluating what questions they ask you. If they don't have a checklist or at least a list of questions for you- about your group, your event, your needs and your expectations- that may indicate that they aren't very experienced with corporate shows. A corporate comedy show is vastly different from a night at a comedy club. For both the comedian and the audience.

If you're dealing with a booking service it should be absolutely fine to ask them how they're compensated and how much of the fee actually goes to the comedian. You might also ask them if they'll have a representative on-site to meet with you and to deal with anything that might have to be fine-tuned before the presentation. If, at the event, you tell the comedian how much you're paying and they look unhappy, or if you ask how much they're getting and they don't answer, that should tell you something.

How much does it cost to hire a comedian? Probably less than you expect. Comedians like Jay Leno or Jerry Seinfeld may cost you in excess of $100,000 for one show. And they keep very busy. A reasonable expectation for a professional show is from $1,000 to $20,000 for 20 to 90 minutes of entertainment, with an experienced comedian like Shaun Eli towards the low end of that. Someone less experienced may cost less. Travel time and cost are also factors.

You may find a local novice comic willing to work your event for $50. But you get what you pay for. It takes at least a decade of experience to become competent as a comedian, and that's the minimum skill level you want for someone you're hiring for your event. There are a lot of really talented musicians who will work cheap. Comedy's different. There are fewer of us, and we start as adults, not as children. So we don't have fifteen years of experience by the time we're twenty five.

Often a comedian will ask questions before discussing a fee. Don't be in a rush– we ask because often we'd prefer to perform for less money in front of a smaller group or for a charity and give you the entertainment you deserve, rather than turn the job down entirely. But don't expect the same treatment if you're a group of three thousand investment bankers. You won't provide your expert services to the local small business for a fraction of your normal fee– please don't hold it against us that we will.

Keep this in mind– you're probably spending between $30 and $100 per person just for the food. How much of your budget is going towards the entertainment? Which will be better remembered? What will people be talking about next week or next year? Nobody will remember two weeks later if they ate steak or chicken unless they get food poisoning, or whether the dessert was ice cream or hand-made pastries. But because the comedian gave them a great time they'll have fond memories of your event.

No, in general when I quote a price it will include my transportation and hotel costs, if any. I prefer to make it easier for you. And also, since I travel a lot, I may not be coming from, or returning, home, so it would be complicated to figure out which client pays what for the transportation. I may ask you to provide me a meal, but you're probably serving food anyway (and if not, we can get something delivered or I can pick something up on the way).

I don’t have a specific list of recommended questions but I suggest you ask whatever you can think of. If you ask a lot of questions and get a sense that the comedian's impatient, maybe that's not the best fit.

To know if a comedian is any good before you hire them, ask for references. Ask for a video or videos. If you ask a comedian for a video and the answer is no then that should be your answer too. Regarding their video(s): Are they just short clips? A longer set? Was it edited? If their promo video is a compilation of short jokes edited together you should wonder- what did they cut out? Can they get consistent laughs or are their jokes hit-and-miss so they had to edit? We here at Brain Champagne don't typically provide long videos but are happy to share five or ten minutes, unedited.

Was their video shot in a bar? A comedy club? A theatre? Corporate event? For a TV show? Do they look and act professional? You can also check a comedian's schedule and catch his or her act at a club. But keep in mind that someone's club act may differ from his or her corporate act. There are comedians who work dirty in clubs and clean for private shows. And a comedian may be working out new material in a club– so you might get a more polished set at your private show.

A comedian who hasn't thought to discuss much of what I talk about in this memo probably isn't that experienced at corporate shows. And a comedian who doesn't have a well-designed, advertising-free website shouldn't be selling himself/herself as a business-skilled corporate comedian.

I worked in business for twenty years before becoming a comedian, I have a degree from Wharton as well as a strong science background. So chances are good that I'll understand what your company does.

I remain shocked and saddened every time someone tells me that they'd hired a comedian for their event and it just didn't work out. It's not common, but on the rare occasion when it does happen, usually what I'm told is that the comedian was simply not clean enough for the group. And then I'm asked why.

Unfortunately this does happen, and the answer to the question of fault is simple. Both sides bear responsibility, and either side could have prevented it. Yes, the comedian should know, for a private event, who comprises the audience. Is it a college fraternity? A corporation or other business group? A religious organization?

Jokes that are well-received at the Beta House may not be appropriate for a Goldman, Sachs client event. And even jokes that Goldman, Sachs may welcome may not be appropriate for a house of worship. Political jokes may be fine if they're not mean or offensive– unless of course you're performing in front of the group you're poking fun at. The president of the United States is supposed to be all smiles and a good sport at the White House Correspondents' Dinner but that doesn't mean he really enjoys the experience.

I have a routine that pokes fun at the Ten Commandments. Clearly I'm not actually opposed to them. Well, not to all of them. But I wouldn't feel comfortable doing some of these jokes for a conference of Mormons. I don't know whether jokes about alcohol– if they poke fun at other people's use of it– would be appropriate for a conference of Mormons. But I would be smart enough to ask before taking the stage. And fortunately I have enough material that I can avoid just about any topic and still keep the audience laughing for however long I'm on stage.

Absolutely, the comedian should establish some knowledge of his audience and, if he or she has any doubts, ask about what topics and language are suitable. BUT– the comedian is what he or she is. Some comedians figure that their act is their act, and if someone is hiring, that's what they get. If you call a barber to come to your house he's still expecting to be cutting hair, not mowing the lawn.

And that means that the event planner bears much of the responsibility for inappropriate content. Because the majority of comedians have at least some vulgar content in their material. And a simple "Can you do the allotted time without swearing, referring to sex or other vulgarities?" is a very appropriate question to pose.

Sometimes an event planner will respond "Well, I saw him on network TV and he was clean." OF COURSE he was clean on network TV– he HAD TO BE clean on network TV. I know vulgar comedians who have appeared on The Tonight Show– they managed to write four and a half excellent clean minutes. But they can't fill a clean half-hour. These comedians are well-known, at least in the entertainment industry, to be vulgar. And knowing who does what is an event-planner's job.

Of course there's the rare case where a comedian sends an event planner a five or ten minute clean video that's not representative of his or her work. So it pays to be clear. When in doubt, ask.

Lastly, the kind of comedian who takes the time and effort to compile this information for you is probably the diligent, wise professional that you should want to hire. Shaun has been a professional comedian for more than 20 years and has 30 years of professional comedy-writing experience.

Comedy works best with a seated audience that's paying attention. A cocktail hour where people are mingling and wandering around and eating standing up isn't the right setting for a comedian. People there want to spend their time talking to each other, not be told to shut up and listen to a stranger. If that's what your event looks like, perhaps you'd prefer to have musicians? Or if you really want comedy, let's talk about making the event comedy-friendly.

If you want a general guideline as to how far in advance to book a comedian, I'd say three months. But I (Shaun Eli) sometimes get booked a year in advance, so if there's a date you have your eye on, reach out. I'm happy to hold a date while we figure things out. And if something else comes along before you've signed an agreement I can let you know and ask what you want to do.

It also depends on what you want the comedian for. If it's for a theatre show, or a charity fundraising event, anything public, you'll need time to market your event.

If it’s a Christmas or holiday party, try to book as early as you can. Almost every company wants a Thursday, Friday or Saturday in early to mid December- it's when comedians are most busy.

I can also do last-minute bookings, so if you have an urgent need for a comedian (and who doesn't?), call me at (914) 487-3866. Call, don't email or text.

And whether it's a year in advance or the day before your event, if I'm not available I'm happy to help you book someone else. I'm the Executive Director of The Ivy League of Comedy (ivystandup.com), so I know a lot of comedians.

Entities occasionally want their group incorporated into a stand-up comedy act. While some comedians will find generic material and try to adapt it to your event, a good comedian can write material that specifically pertains to your organization or its members. If you want this done right be prepared to pay for it. Writing good comedy takes effort. And writing specialized comedy that can't really be tested and honed and re-written and re-tested on just any audience until it's ready for your particular event… that's even more complicated. But you can book a good comedian and have a great show with barely a mention of your organization. Funny is funny. But one thing many of us have learned- if we open the performance with a joke or even just a mention of your company or industry, and then near the end we also incorporate you into the material, the audience will have the impression that much of the show was specifically about them.

Yes, comedians have contracts and require deposits. I (Shaun Eli) have a contract that covers a lot of contingencies. It's good risk management, to avoid any misunderstandings. You don't want to work without a contract, and I'd suggest that if a comedian's contract is simple (just who, when, where, for how long and how much) then they're not that experienced.

The contract should cover contingencies like weather and illness issues, cancellations and reschedulings, and any technical requirements. I've been told that my contract is funny, which was not my intent, but I guess it's just my personality coming through. My contract is written in plain English, not lawyerese.

I follow the industry standard of 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.

Absolutely! That's the whole reason I got the fancy headshots and spent hours writing a biography, so people can use it. We can also discuss which of my short video clips you can use.

The best time for a comedian to perform is generally after dinner, but it depends on the event. 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.

Serving snacks during a show is okay. A full meal is not– it's noisy and detracts attention from the entertainment. If there's a dinner, serve it first, clear the plates, then start the show.

If it’s before dinner then people will be hungry and want to eat. I have a joke about that in my act. Whether it’s before or after your speeches/awards presentation is up to you. Different comedians have different preferences.

Just about every comedian insists on a sound system with a hand-held microphone (wired or wireless), even if performing for a small group. The microphone gives us a level of authority, and don’t forget that not everyone may hear as well as you do, even if they don’t admit it.

We need a hand-held microphone. Not a mic stuck to a lectern. A lavalier mic (the kind clipped to clothing) is also not a great idea. We’ve all heard stories of someone who went to the bathroom and forgot to turn off their mic. And you don’t want what you thought was your private conversation with the comedian broadcast to the whole room. Especially if you think that your boss is an idiot and might happen to mention it to the comedian.

If it’s a wireless mic you should double-check that it’s fully charged, and also have a back-up mic. Not just a second power pack- changing batteries in the middle of a joke isn’t ideal, and that’s even assuming we know how to do it, because every mic is different. Also have a mic stand and a flat-top stool (flat is important because comedians may want to put down a beverage and/or their phone or a recorder).

If it’s an event I (Shaun Eli) can drive to, I can bring a sound system. I own several. But I do charge extra for the trouble of lugging it, setting it up and then loading it back up afterwards.

I can also give advice on buying or renting a sound system, or perhaps you can borrow one if you know any musicians who might have one.

It’s nice to have a stage and stage lighting, but they’re not necessary. I did show up at a corporate gig once where the lighting was so bad that we rushed to Home Depot and bought lights for the show. That’s another reason I show up early- you never know what you might need that time for.

I don’t need any AV setup- it’s just me talking. The beauty of stand-up comedy is that it’s just words.

Experience has shown that the best setting for a comedy show is making it look as much like a comedy club as possible– that’s why comedy clubs are set up the way they are. An elevated stage (if you have one) at one side of the room (along the long wall if possible). Seats facing the stage. It’s okay to pack people in. The closer to the stage the better. And if at all possible have someone seat people and first fill the seats closest to the stage. There shouldn’t be empty seats up front.

Lights in the room should be turned down or off, with stage lighting, if you have it, to highlight the comedian. If you don’t have stage lighting then do your best to have the lights over the comedian (but not behind the comedian) on, and the rest of the room lights off. Window shades should be down, and the room should be set up so people aren’t walking through it during the show.

The comedian will probably give you a written introduction. Please follow it. It was written for a reason– and remember, it's the comedian's job to be funny, it’s not yours. Attempts to funny-up an introduction usually fall flat and make it that much harder for the comedian to start the show. If you want to get what you're paying for, allow the comedian to do his or her job.

Most comedians prefer to have a quiet place to relax before a performance, whether it's a theatre's formal dressing room, an empty office or somewhere else private we can rest and leave our stuff when we're on stage. There have been events where every place was so noisy that I just sat in my car until it was time for me to perform. For me, anywhere quiet is fine.

No. Comedians are very protective of our material, because the surprise of a punchline is what we're selling. We are very careful in our decisions as to what particular jokes and performances to share on-line or anywhere else.

Comedians often sell merchandise (CDs/DVDs, books, t-shirts, novelty items) at club shows. They may want to sell at your event– please let them know whether or not you consider this appropriate, preferably before discussing the fee. Or for an added bonus, arrange to provide everyone with the comedian’s book/DVD/t-shirt, and all your guests will leave with a reminder of the fun time they had!

Then I guess the comedian goes on later. If you need to end the event at a certain time, you can always instruct the comedian to do a shorter set (but the fee will stay the same).

When I started in comedy I heard horror stories about a show scheduled for 8 PM that didn't start until midnight, so I put a clause in my contract to cover that contingency. I've never had to even think about using it.

The only time I can remember a show starting more than an hour late was during flooding in New Zealand where nobody could get to the show on time. Everything worked out fine (show-wise).

And frankly, if I'm away from home, whether I get back to my hotel at 9 PM or midnight makes little difference to me. I don't think I've ever had an evening show and then booked a flight for that same night. If I'm planning to drive home and it's, say, a 3 hour drive, and the show was supposed to be at 8 but didn't start until midnight, well, in that case I suppose I'd ask you to cover the cost of a hotel. That's never even come close to happening.

So far in over two decades as a comedian, I (Shaun Eli) have never missed a show due to illness. I'm healthy and I get lots of sleep. Were I to get sick, the first thing I'd do is let you know, and then immediately see which of my colleagues at The Ivy League of Comedy might be available. If one of them is, and is acceptable to you, I can facilitate the change. And if they're more expensive (and they are), I'd probably eat the difference. Yeah, that means I'd lose money. Better that than an unsatisfied customer. And you can hire me the next time.