New York Clean Corporate Stand-up Comedian & Funny Keynote Speaker
Hiring clean stand-up comedian Shaun Eli for your corporate or charity comedy event in New York, or just about anywhere else. He performs worldwide.
About me
Hello New York! I grew up in and around New York City and I went to college at Penn. I studied marketing and economics and worked in banking for twenty years. I didn’t want to, but this is a company town. I’ve lived in two of the five boroughs but mainly grew up in Scarsdale (Westchester County, just north of NYC). My parents are from Brooklyn, but not cool 21st century Brooklyn. A hundred years ago Brooklyn when most of it was poor but according to my mother there was still farmland there. They didn’t have farms. They barely had food.
When I told my parents I wanted to be a stand-up comedian my father said “Why can’t you just be a funny banker?” I said I’m already a funny banker and it isn’t what I want for my life. I would’ve said “I’m already a funny banker and it sucks” but to my mother the word “sucks” is a dirty word. Her list of dirty words is pretty long. That’s not at all why I’m a clean comic but it might be why I don’t find scatological humor particularly funny.
My parents’ generation cared about not starving. I have a college degree and didn’t live through the Depression or World War II so I kind of take not starving for granted. My generation gives more attention to happiness. And now I’m pretty much in the happiness business, so that’s a pretty nice life, travelling around the world making people laugh.
Am I the funniest comedian in NY? You’ve got to be kidding. I could name fifty comics who are way funnier than I am, most of whom you probably haven’t heard of. My list would probably also leave off people who are famous but whose comedy isn’t particularly clever. So why should you book me? Well, you can’t afford Seinfeld or Gaffigan or Gulman, or even just about anybody else on my list. I am way more affordable than just about any other corporate comedian around. Why? Lack of greed, for one thing. As I say below, I’m the rare person who is satisfied with what he has. I have enough. My girlfriend says I have three of everything, but really, three chef’s knives and three toasters is not a big deal, especially when most of it’s inherited. I don’t have three girlfriends. Were I to suggest that, I’d probably go from one to zero. I also have only one house and one car. I would like a big house and several cars. Not Jay Leno house and cars, but more than what I have.
I said I’d like to have that, but I don’t dwell on it. I’m very happy with my current house and car.
You can read what some people have said about my shows.
Here’s a short video from a show in Michigan. Apparently they have delis there too, and there’s one that they are particularly proud of.
My stand-up comedy
My comedy is clean and pretty friendly and a little sarcastic. I don’t mean to be, but I’m a New Yorker and some of that attitude slips through. Even though I’m a pretty happy person, with a master’s degree in applied positive psychology. I’m the rare person you might meet who has enough. I’m happy with what I have. Would I love beach houses in The Hamptons and Malibu? Of course. But it’s not my life’s goal and I’m not crying about lacking them. I have more than enough to meet my needs.
I’m fortunate to be able to travel and perform all over the world. I’ve headlined shows on six continents. I’d love to make it seven, I even tried to get booked in Antarctica but was unsuccessful. The scientists there do have a visiting artists program, but it’s more like for photographers and painters, people who can make use of being there for more than a couple of days. Space on flights there is a very limited resource and apparently they won’t spend it on flying a guy in for just a show or two.
If you want to see what I’m like on stage watch my stand-up comedy videos.
Highlights
- Profiled in The New York Times
- Wrote jokes for opening monologues of three late-night talk show hosts for almost 20 years
- Jay Leno cited one of Shaun’s jokes as the type of smart comedy he liked to include in his opening monologue (Fortune magazine interview)
- Performed on Netflix and Amazon
- Wharton-educated, with a master’s degree in positive psychology
- Tours with Armed Forces Entertainment
- Headlined shows on six continents (so far- if you can book me for Antarctica, please do!)
- Writes jokes and consults on humor for corporations and political candidates (but only the good ones)
Booking me for shows in or near NYC, or anywhere else in the state, country or world
Email Shaun (at) Brain Champagne dot com, or call or text me at (914) it’s-funny (914) 487-3866. You can even mail a letter but that’s way slower, especially because I don’t check my post office box every day. But if you really prefer to communicate on paper I can accommodate that. I believe in being customer-focused.
I’m sure you’ll have questions and I’ll do my best to answer them. I’ll have questions for you too.
So get in touch and let’s have some fun!