This blog is one in a series aimed to help you book a comedian for your bar, restaurant, corporate event, or bris.
Your ducks are in a row: leadership is on board, the employees are into it, and you know when the comedy show should happen in your event schedule.
So how do you find a comedian?
As in most cases these days, we’re starting with Google.
Start by Googling “Stand-up comedian in…” and fill in your state at the end.
Stand-up comedian in Iowa, for example.
It’s almost that easy, but there’s a slight hiccup.
When you Google “Stand-up comedian in [your state],” you’ll find websites that act as clearinghouses for entertainers, sorted by location.
Want to cut to the chase? Visit my Corporate Page.
Take note of the top few links you find. Do they say, “Sponsored?” Because if so, you might be in trouble. It’s best to take those with a grain of salt.
The joy of the world wide web is that booking agencies from anywhere and everywhere can advertise to you, and pretend they’re local.
If you live in Wisconsin, the “local” agency you click on might try and offer you a comedian from New York. I don’t need to tell you that flying someone across the country, paying for hotel and food and all that jazz, adds up fast, and I know y’all are careful about your event budgets.
You might see “Voted Best Comic” or similar up in those paid search ads.
But, it’s just that: AN ADVERTISEMENT. Using a headline the comedian or some savvy marketer wrote themselves. Maybe, or maybe not, based in truth.
If you wander into a clearinghouse site, they charge comedians to be at the top of search results in the same way Google sells ads to be at the top of theirs.
A comedian buying advertisement isn’t a bad thing by any means, but remember that being at the top of search results does not equate to “funniest” or “best.” It just means “deepest pockets,” and guess what? They’re going to pass their expenses off to you.
More overhead = higher cost, but not necessarily higher value.
But, all that said, many of these sites do offer local comedians. If you click around for even a few seconds, you should be able to find more than a few that are close at hand.
Once you do, it’s time to dig into a few of them, and see what they’re about.
Pick a few of the comedians that have a decent description, maybe a few reviews, and visit their websites.
What to look for.
a professional website, that’s organized and easy to find what you need.
Got a question you’d like to ask? Hit me up through my Contact Page.
This is a nod to professionalism, and you need to hire a professional for your event. Corporate events aren’t open mic nights at the local watering hole. Your comedian needs to be reliable, a clear communicator. Someone who takes this job seriously.
A comedian’s website is the front porch of their comedy business. If the front porch is in disarray, everything inside is, too.
Next, look for a section on the comedian’s website that reads “Corporate Events,” or “Private Parties.”
If they don’t have a section like that, it’s a red flag.
You need a comedian with skills and the résumé to go with it.
If they aren’t billing themselves as a corporate or private comedian, they likely don’t have corporate event experience, That’s like hiring the rando dude from Tradehome Shoes to operate on your broken ankle.
Close, but not quite.
An experienced corporate comedian will be professional on stage, in front of your audience. So look for that experience.
Next, check out the testimonials and reviews on their site.
They don’t have any?
That’s another red flag.
A professional comedian will have a list of corporate clients who have said nice things about them. They know you’re going to do your research, and want everything front and center.
Things should be somewhat “Goldilocks” in this section; not too many, not too few, “just right.”
If a comedian has a blurb or two, it may be a sign they don’t have a lot of corporate experience.
If they have a hundred quotes, while that is very impressive, it’s also sort of sloppy. Why didn’t they pair things down to the best of the best? It shows a bit of disorganization.
Your next step: Watch video of a corporate comedy set.
Every comedian has a great two-minute set.
That doesn’t guarantee they’re right for you, so don’t choose a comedian based on a short YouTube clip of one good joke. Anybody can write and perform one good joke. Hell, my uncle Rex is funny for about seven minutes before he runs out of things to say.
Many clubs have been burned by the “great short set,” because it usually comes with the quote, “As seen on…”
When you’re performing on a late night talk show, you’re doing a couple minutes, so it’s going to be the best of your best.
Generally, comedians kill on late night shows.
But can they stand on stage for 30 minutes or longer and keep an audience entertained? Does their funny fall off a cliff after those five minutes?
You need video proof your comedian knows what they’re doing.
An experienced corporate comedian will have a video that shows exactly what you’ll get.
Watch that video, start to finish.
Want to see my video? It’s right here.
Is the audience laughing? Is the content rated appropriately for what you want?
(You’d be surprised how often comedians post videos filled with silent audiences.)
Can’t find a video? Or maybe you’ve contacted them to ask, but they can’t provide one?
That’s yet another red flag.
Next: Reach out to the performer and start a conversation.
There should be a contact form or phone/email on their website.
Provide him or her with:
- Date and time of your event.
- Location.
- The length of show you want.
Ask the comedian:
- Where they’re located. Remember, just because you searched for “local comedian” doesn’t mean Google gave you someone nearby. Comedians can pay to show up in search results thousands of miles from home.
- If they require lodging (if yes, ask them to incorporate lodging into their quote so you’re not also a travel agent)
- Their quoted cost to perform at your event.
Protect your organization.
If you come to an agreement, a professional will have a contract for you to sign, to protect you both. Review it in its entirety before hiring them.
The contract should address:
- Cancellation (What happens if the comedian is sick? Will they provide an alternate? Will you be refunded?)
- The equipment you each agreed to provide, if any
- The retainer you’re responsible for to block that date on their calendar. (This is common. Saying yes to your event means saying no to other offers, so the retainer is usually non-refundable and compensates the performer for turning down those jobs.)
But wait! How about a little insurance?
Nobody likes a “gotcha” moment. Check out these final tips for a great corporate comedy show.
Or, if you’d like to get your giggle on, head on over to my YouTube Channel.