This blog is part of a series aimed to help you book a comedian for your bar, restaurant, corporate event, or bris. Here, we figure out if comedy isn’t for you.
People try to book a comedian for some strange events.
I turn many of them down.
Weddings and birthday parties are the big two.
Actually, come to think of it, it’s not that I turn these gigs down, I start asking questions, and suddenly the purchasing party isn’t interested anymore.
I’m not sure people really know what they’re getting into when it comes to having comedian at their event.
A wedding?
When people want to socialize, and dance?
And you’re going to tell them to shut up and focus on some idiot yapping at them?
Yeah… no.
The bride and groom (but especially bride) better be enormous fans of comedy to want such shenanigans on their special day.
Want to skip the reading? Go visit my Corporate Page.
Comedy is a focused event; you have to have a willing, captive audience.
In other essays in this long, pointless (but hopefully working in my favor through Google’s creepy analytics) series, I’ve pointed out that bars should charge a cover, and turn off all televisions.
Corporate events should have comedy be at the tail end of the event, so people who aren’t interested in the show don’t have to sit through it in order to get to something like giveaways, or toasts.
When you’re in charge of hiring entertainment, you should absolutely know what they want.
Are they interested in dancing?
Hire a band, or a DJ.
Do they like socializing?
Maybe a string quartet; background music.
One of the worst shows of my life was a corporate event in…
Actually, I’m not going to say where.
There’s no need to go into calling out anyone by name, and I don’t even feel like getting into specifics like location.
But, I will tell you what happened.
I drove to the city early, and checked into the hotel.
Called my point of contact at the business, and arranged to meet her in the ballroom they’d rented.
We had a nice chat about what they expected of me, what their group was like, and how the evening would go.
They had comedy slated for after dinner, but before the giveaways. They were going to hold a lottery, and hand out a couple televisions, a couple cash bonuses, and even a vacation to lucky employees.
I suggested as lightly as I could that they might want to put that before comedy, so people who wanted to, could leave, but they were not interested in changing the schedule.
Well, they had dinner, and announced me.
It is one of only two times I’ve been greeted with open hostility.
I’ve been greeted with enthusiasm and disinterest, but hostility?
That’s rare.
I had a job to do, so I smiled and told a few warmup jokes…
…to silence.
They just stared at me.
Arms were folded, faces were taut.
After a few minutes, I shut down and went into auto-pilot mode. If they weren’t going to give me any energy, I wasn’t going to expend what I had left winning them over.
The one thing that shocked me out of my system, was when I got to one of my surefire jokes; something that generally elicited big laughter, and even applause.
When the punchline left my mouth, I got a chuckle.
I was so surprised, I actually said, “That’s the first time that joke hasn’t gotten applause.”
Someone in the audience responded, harshly, “Good.”
They were proud they weren’t giving it up for me.
I fulfilled my contracted time, thanked them, and said goodnight.
After I had finished, they started giving away prizes, and I met with my point of contact again.
Shellshocked, I asked her, “What just happned? I’ve never had a response like that before?”
Her response?
“Oh, they do that to every comedian. They did it to the one last year, too. This year, they said they wanted a magician.”
Then, she gave me my check, and walked away.
I was stunned.
The employees asked for a magician, had complained about comedy in the past, and they hired me, anyway?
That is nothing but amazingly horrible management.
(Bonus: the story doesn’t even end there. On Monday morning, they called the booking agent, and lied about my performance. Blaming me for the employees not liking the show. The booking agent, being a kind and understanding man, understood what had happened, and didn’t blame me.
Lol, of course I’m kidding.
That booking agent never talked to me again.
Never listened to my side of the story; wouldn’t take my calls, didn’t respond to my emails.
The only time I heard from him was, (a) when he forwarded the clients lies about me, to me, angrily accusing me of having done wrong. And (B), when he accidentally included me on the response to the client, completely throwing me under the bus. I don’t really wish ill on anyone in this world, but I really, really hope he (and the liaison that night) get anal warts. Horrible people, both of them.)
Point is, maybe comedy isn’t for you.
Your employees might just be a group of Karens. If that’s the case, let them go be bitter on their own time. That’s on them.
Look, comedy can bring life and laughter to any event, but it’s not always the ideal fit. Comedy’s reliance on timing, shared humor, and a willingness to engage openly with the audience can sometimes clash with the needs or expectations of certain events. Here are a few reasons why comedy may not suit every gathering and why an alternative entertainment option might be a better fit.
1. Audience Sensitivities
One of the challenges with comedy is that humor is subjective, and what’s funny to one person may be offensive to another. While some comedians can adapt to a crowd’s tone, many rely on sharp observations or edgy humor that could alienate or offend attendees.
2. Risk of Misinterpretation
Comedy, especially stand-up, often involves irony, sarcasm, or self-deprecating humor, which may be misinterpreted or taken literally by an audience unfamiliar with the comedian’s style. This can happen especially with an audience that doesn’t regularly attend comedy shows or if the comedian is unfamiliar. In a formal or professional setting, even a harmless joke might come across as inappropriate or diminish the event’s purpose if taken the wrong way. This risk makes comedy a tricky choice for events where clarity and professionalism are a priority.
3. Potential Distractions from Event Goals
Many events, particularly those with professional or educational goals, aim to convey a message, celebrate an achievement, or focus on learning. Comedy’s primary purpose is entertainment, which may be at odds with the atmosphere needed for the event.
4. Limited Appeal Across All Demographics
Comedy can be difficult to tailor to all age groups, professions, or cultural backgrounds. An event with a varied demographic, such as a corporate gathering with employees of different ages or a family event, can make it hard for a comedian to find common ground.
5. Room for Misaligned Expectations
Stand-up comedy, in particular, relies on audience engagement and response. If attendees are expecting a more traditional or passive form of entertainment, a comedian’s attempts to interact or involve them in jokes could lead to discomfort or reluctance.
6. The Need for Specialized Setup
Comedy performances often require specific setups, such as lighting, acoustics, and seating arrangements, to ensure the audience can fully enjoy the performance. Comedy thrives on subtlety, vocal nuances, and timing, which may be lost in a venue that isn’t designed for performance. Large or open spaces, like conference halls or outdoor areas, may not capture the intimacy needed for stand-up, resulting in a performance that doesn’t land as intended.