This blog is one in a series aimed to help you book a comedian for your bar, restaurant, corporate event, or bris. Today, we’re gonna figure out what style of comedy is right for your event.
If you don’t really pay attention to the world of comedy, you might not know that there are many different styles of joke-slinging available to you.
Storytelling, setup-and-punchline, zingers…
You can even hire comedic magicians, hypnotists who incorporate jokes into their act, jugglers…
(No, seriously, There have been at least… OK, well, there’s been one funny juggler that I’ve known of throughout the years.)
Now you have to ask, what style of comedy is right for your event?
You might not even know.
Are you hiring for a corporate party?
Comedy night at a bar, or restaurant?
You should look at comedians the same way you’d look at a band. There’s a world of difference between a metal band, and a jazz trio. An acoustic guitarist, and a cover band playing hits from the 1980s.
You don’t just throw a dart at a board and “hire a band,” and you shouldn’t hire any random comedian for your event.
Research is important, which is why you need to both read reviews, conform testimonials, and—most importantly—check out their YouTube page.
Two days ago, I went and checked out the webpage of a comedian I know.
I heard he got a gig that he wasn’t prepared for, and wondered how he’d gotten hired.
I can tell you this, it wasn’t through his webpage.
That was a disaster.
No video clips, no testimonials, no résumé of clubs he’s worked.
I’ve no clue how he got hired, but he did.
Every time he’s opened for me, he performed for about thirty minutes, with twenty of them being filled with silence.
But I digress.
Point is, there are many styles of comedy.
To name a few:
- Setup, punchline. This is traditional comedy. You have a premise, you lay it out for the audience, and then you give it a twist they may or may not see coming. Jerry Seinfeld would be an example of setup/punchline comedy.
- Storytelling. Here, you’re going to hear slices of life. The comedian is going to take you down a winding path, filled with comedic twists and turns. Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr are storytellers.
- One liner. These are straightforward zingers. The comedy (and laughs) come quickly. The funny hits you fast. Think Rodney Dangerfield.
- Observational. This is the examination of everyday life; things everyone can relate to. You’re going to hear about traffic, Uber, and airline peanuts. Ellen was an observational comic.
- Deadpan. The comedian delivers jokes in a completely serious tone, making the jokes all the funnier. Steven Wright is a deadpan comedian.
- Dark. This is comedy with an edge; it might not be for everyone. Think Anthony Jeselnik.
- Physical. You’re going to see a lot of hyperactive movement, but maybe not hear a lot of jokes. Dane Cook became a millionaire using physical comedy.
- Improv. This is usually a troupe (or group) thing, but every so often you have a comedian who hits the stage, unprepared, and feeds off the audience. Matt Rife blew up because of viral videos of audience-interaction.
- Prop. The comedian has a bag of tricks with which to amuse. Carrot Top.
- Musical. These are usually guitar acts. They either write amusing tunes of their own, and take popular songs and change the lyrics, in order to make them “wacky.” Weird Al sort of falls under this category, but mostly it’s a guitar-comic kinda thing.
- Alternative. This is absurd, sometimes funny, sometimes not. Andy Kaufman was funny in small doses, but he did once read The Great Gatsby to an audience, which… Yeah, that would have gotten old, fast.
- Roast. Everyone is gonna take it on the chin. Expect to be insulted, but hilariously so. Jeff Ross is the roast master for a reason.
- Clean. Grandma’s ears won’t burn, because the language (and content) is innocuous.
- Dirty. You’re gonna make grandma blush.
- Political. Jon Stewart, and Jon Oliver.
Now that you’ve read all that, you have to ask: what style of comedy is right for my group?
You’re the only person who can answer that, and it’s a difficult minefield to navigate.
Compare it back to music: everyone likes a different style of music. If you hire a rock band, the people who like country are going to be upset. If you hire an opera singer, the people who like jazz fusion will be letdown.
Comedy is expected to be universal, but the fact is, it’s not.
Comedians do their best to be as funny as possible, but there’s a fine line walked between artistic integrity and selling out.
You don’t want to be a “purist,” and get zero laughs, but neither do you want to be a dancing monkey, throwing poop around just because it’s easy, and funny.
The best thing you can do, as said many times before, is to watch clips of the comedians and judge for yourself.
Speaking of that, if you want to skip the read, head over to my corporate page.
HEY, ARE YOU STILL READING? WELL, I’VE GOT A SECRET FOR YOU…
I’ve been doing some research, and apparently if you drop a TON of blogs at the same time, about the same topic, it’s gonna boost your webpage.
So that’s what I’m doing here.
I’m churning out a massive word salad in the hopes of gaining a few Google hits.
But, here’s the thing: I’ve been a comedian for quite a while now.
I’ve performed at A-list comedy clubs, dingy one-night bars, for American troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan…
I have performed for more corporate events than you can shake a stick at, and for high school after proms.
I’ve released eight albums, one of which made it into the iTunes top 20 on their comedy chart, gained over 280,000 followers across social media, over 100,000,000 views on YouTube, and have written four books.
I have a Disney Clean act (about 20 minutes), a PG act (45 minutes to an hour), PG-13, (hour and 15 minutes) and then a no-holds barred act that can go for two hours.
What do I pitch to most corporate clients?
The 30-minute act.
And guess what?
I take less money for that one.
Yup, you read that right: I push my least expensive package.
Why?
Because corporate events are about socialization.
You have dinner, a few drinks, maybe a giveaway or awards presentation, and then comedy becomes a nice cherry atop the sundae that is your event.
I’ve no problem performing for an hour, but I’ve found that 30-minutes is fairly Goldilocks: not too long, not too short, just right.
Yes, I’m shooting myself in the foot financially by offering less time for less money, but making you the happiest client you can be is my main goal.
What do I pitch most bars?
About an hour.
If corporate events are about visiting, bar events are about keeping the customer focused, and happy.
And, yes, drinking.
Because alcohol makes people happy (not really. It’s a depressant that elevates the happy if you’re already in a happy mood), and alcohol sales help the bottom line.
(Sometimes, they are the bottom line. Alcohol keeps businesses in the black, and that’s a good thing. Unless you’re a daycare.)
Anyway, because algorithms like 2,200-word essays (blogs), I’m gonna keep writing, but from here on out there’s a lot (and I mean a lot) of redundancy.
For some reason, Google thinks longer is better.
I looked up some example blogs, and wow…
They’re awful.
Like, as bad as the one you’re (probably not) reading right now, but without the personality.
AI probably wrote those other blogs. Meanwhile, I’m watching Archer and trying to milk a few hundred words out of a tired premise.
Maybe Google is reacting to TikTok, and the whole ‘Short Attention Span Theater’ spell the world is under.
Since the world is going in one direction, Google is going in the other direction.
If you’d like to pull the trigger and book me, or shoot me a message and ask a few questions, just open up your email and type in comedian.nathan.timmel (at symbol) gmail.com, and fire off your inquiry.
(Sorry, I can’t make it an active email/link, because those ever-present bots get to spamming, and no one likes an inbox filled with junk.)
Anyway, thanks for making it this far!
Now, back to the essay.
Earlier, I gave you a bullet point breakdown of a few different styles of comedy.
What does AI write, when you copy/paste my bullet points into its generator and ask it to write an essay?
Let’s take a look.
Comedy is a versatile art form that transcends language, culture, and time. Its purpose is universal: to entertain, provoke thought, and bring laughter into people’s lives. What makes comedy particularly fascinating is its variety of styles, each offering a unique way to connect with audiences. From classic jokes with punchlines to absurdist performances, the world of comedy is as diverse as the people who create it.
One of the most traditional forms of comedy is the setup/punchline structure. This style relies on carefully crafted jokes, where the setup builds anticipation, and the punchline delivers an unexpected twist. Jerry Seinfeld is a master of this approach, often taking mundane observations about life—like waiting in line or puzzling over airline peanuts—and turning them into moments of hilarity. Similarly, observational comedy, a close cousin to the setup/punchline method, finds humor in everyday situations. Comedians like Ellen DeGeneres excel at this, drawing laughter from the quirks of human behavior and shared experiences that everyone can relate to.
There is a style of comedy leans heavily on delivery rather than content.
Deadpan comedy, for instance, thrives on the contrast between a straight-faced delivery and absurd material. Steven Wright’s monotone delivery of bizarre statements, such as “I intend to live forever. So far, so good,” epitomizes this understated but impactful style. On the opposite end of the spectrum is physical comedy, where exaggerated movements and visual gags replace words. Icons like Charlie Chaplin and Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) show that sometimes actions truly do speak louder than words.
Satire and parody offer another dimension to comedy, using humor as a tool for social and cultural critique. Shows like The Daily Show or comedians like John Oliver employ satire to dissect current events, often blending humor with thought-provoking insights. Parody, on the other hand, imitates works or genres to expose their flaws or absurdities. “Weird Al” Yankovic’s song parodies, such as “Amish Paradise”, highlight how clever mimicry can be both entertaining and subversive.
Dark comedy and absurdist humor push boundaries further.
Dark comedy explores taboo or morbid topics with a humorous lens, as seen in Anthony Jeselnik’s routines that dare audiences to laugh at uncomfortable truths. Absurdist humor, exemplified by Monty Python’s Flying Circus, revels in the nonsensical and bizarre, creating humor out of situations that defy logic or expectations.
Improv comedy stands out as one of the most dynamic styles, requiring performers to think on their feet and build humor spontaneously. Shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway? showcase the creativity and quick wit of comedians who craft entire scenes based on audience suggestions. This spontaneity contrasts with musical comedy, where performers like Bo Burnham carefully combine humorous lyrics with catchy tunes to deliver laughs that are both entertaining and reflective.
Some comedians find their voice in self-deprecating humor, using their own flaws or experiences as the butt of the joke. Rodney Dangerfield’s lament, “I don’t get no respect,” is a classic example of this approachable, relatable style. Meanwhile, storytelling comedians like Mike Birbiglia weave long narratives, punctuating their tales with comedic twists that feel personal and authentic.
In its many forms, comedy offers something for everyone.
From the slapstick antics of The Three Stooges to the biting wit of one-liner comics like Mitch Hedberg, each style brings its own flavor to the art of making people laugh. By exploring different techniques, comedy continues to evolve, proving that humor is as varied and complex as life itself.
Ultimately, the diversity of comedy ensures its universal appeal. Whether you’re drawn to sharp satire, physical pratfalls, or the relatability of a well-told joke, there’s a style of comedy that speaks to every individual. This endless variety is what keeps comedy fresh, timeless, and essential in a world that can always use a little more laughter.
Huh, not bad.
A little generic, but it gets me close enough to my word limit in order to call it quits.
There’s only so much you can say about this sort of thing before it’s all redundant, and tiring.
And let’s be honest, that point was about one paragraph into this essay.
No one is reading this anymore.
I’ll tell you a secret, though.
On another blog, number four, to be specific, I got so rambly toward the end, I started telling personal stories about bad club owners.
I didn’t get into names or anything, because there’s no point in burning bridges as an unknown comic, but I will say this: my buddy worked with a comedian who is currently touring arenas.
He’s known as one of the nicest guys in comedy.
And even he said, “I don’t think most club owners realize how much we can’t wait to stop working for them, given how they treat us.”
That hit me hard.
If one of the nicest guys in the industry gets treated like garbage, what chance to the rest of us have?
Success is the best revenge.
He’s playing arenas, and I bet every club would love to have him for a weekend.
Image by Petra Hegenbart Pixabay
Also, SEO is yelling at me, so…