Most of my “how to book a comedian” posts revolve around corporate shows. This time, I’m delving into the world of public shows.
The public show can be in a comedy club, or any venue that decides to have someone sling jokes to the general public.
In order to have a comedy show—and, yes, this is obvious—you need a comedian.
(Or two. Maybe even three!)
Hence, the series: How to Book a Comedian.
Hiring a comedian is easy.
Hiring a good comedian… It’s not that it’s difficult, it just takes what anything done well takes: time, and effort.
Let me begin with a tale of failure.
Several years ago, a comedy club opened in… Actually, I don’t want to say. It does me zero good to burn bridges, and by calling out anyone, even with the best intentions, is no bueno.
So, a comedy club opened.
I reached out in search of work, and the owner asked me to send my credentials.
Which I did.
I followed up every two to three weeks—I was searching for Goldilocks; not too often to be a pest, not too infrequent to be forgotten—when, after several months, I finally received a reply: “We have decided to go through a booking agent. Please reach out to them.”
I was crestfallen.
I recognized the name of the booking agency, and it wasn’t one of the reputable ones. They had a reputation for booking cheapest, easiest, and therefore not always those with ability.
This next line will shock you, but the club went out of business in under two years.
I don’t know exactly why, but I would wager a good reason was because audiences had a less-than-stellar time, word of mouth spread, and things dried up.
The same thing happened with a somewhat local brewery I reached out to.
The owner was interested in comedy, ghosted me for months, then suddenly was using a booking agent to hire comedians, instead of doing so directly himself.
Which isn’t inherently a bad thing.
If you hire an agency that’s above board, you’ll be fine.
Unfortunately, there are many places out there who will label themselves a booking agency, but who have no real ability to bring good comedians to a room.
Let’s do some math, shall we?
Say I told a venue I could do a comedy show for $500.
Then a “booking agent” says he can get two comics and a longer show for the same price.
The owner is going to select that option, right?
But break things down.
The booking agent is taking $150 off the top.
Now, instead of getting one $500 comedian, you’re getting two comedians who will split $350.
Say the headlining comedian is offered $250, and the opening comedian $100.
Suddenly, the quality of your comedians has dropped by an incredible amount.
Comedians who know their value won’t take discounted gigs.
Meanwhile, comedians who don’t always get work will jump at the chance to get on stage anywhere they can.
In all honesty, I occasionally take gigs that don’t pay all that great; it all depends on the drive.
If something is within an hour or two, and I don’t have anything else going on, then yes, I’ll take a booking like that.
The last time I took such a gig, my opening act bombed. Hard.
He was in over his head; barely had 10 minutes of material, the rest was all “ideas” he hadn’t fleshed out yet.
Yet, this same comic talked about how the booking agent had headlined him in the past, and that he had three upcoming headlining slots for the booking agent.
How?
Why?
Because good comedians were turning down the poor pay for the work.
The booking agent was putting whoever he could in the slots he had to fill; people who wanted to be comedians, but weren’t really good at their job yet.
Beginners.
I’ve rarely seen those rooms last more than a couple shows.
The audience has a bad time, and doesn’t return.
The owners of the venue get annoyed, and unfortunately, they label all comedy as being to blame.
Because they didn’t put in the work to see whether or not a comedian had the ability to amuse an audience.
The fact of the matter is, comedy is just like anything else: you get what you pay for.
If you wouldn’t get a cut-rate surgeon to perform an operation, why would you get a discount comedian to entertain your customers?
How should things be done?
Here, I will absolutely use names, because everybody loves praise, right?
There is a bar in Duluth, Minnesota, that has had a running comedy night for twenty years.
(Maybe more.)
The Dubh Lihn Pub has two shows every Saturday night, early and late, and they usually sell out.
That room is currently booked by a working comedian, someone who has been putting in windshield time driving to gigs for over twenty years.
He has a rich knowledge of comedy, a deep well of comedians to draw from, and understands both sides of any issue.
As a comedian, he knows what we go through.
As a booker, he understands what the business wants.
It’s as win-win as you can get.
Comedians are like any other community, they talk, they form friendships, and they learn who to trust, and who to hold off on.
Another example of doing things right would be the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The owner researches every comic he books, and then books shows according to each comedian’s ability, and how well the overall show will arc.
Goonie’s, in Rochester, MN, goes through a reputable agency, which means there is no one way to do anything.
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 traffic to your webpage.
It’s all about SEO, and expertise in your field.
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.
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’ve 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’ve got 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 public venues?
About an hour.
If corporate events are about visiting, open-door events are about keeping the customer focused, and happy.
(And, yes, drinking.)
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.
Hell, sometimes, alcohol sales are the bottom line. Alcohol can keep a businesses in the black, and that’s a good thing.
Unless you’re a daycare.
(Zing!)
But, there is a fine line between “happy,” and drunk, and you don’t want an audience full of sloshed shouters, heckling, disrupting the show, and then (worse for the business) driving home.
That’s how lawsuits happen.
So, an hour.
One comedian, me, and we’re in and out like your dad at a pay-by-the-hour hotel on payday.
(Not really sure why I went after your dad right there. He’s probably a really nice guy. Apologies.)
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!
I’ve nothing left to say, so here’s ChatGPT, with an essay on why a venue should have a comedy night.
Why Your Venue Should Host a Comedy Night: Laughs, Loyalty, and Cold Hard Profits
You’ve got the stage. You’ve got the drinks. You’ve got the awkwardly loud air conditioning. Now all you need? A reason for people to walk through your door on a random Thursday night like it’s the hottest ticket in town.
Enter: Comedy Night—your new best friend.
Here’s why hosting a night of stand-up might be the smartest, most entertaining decision you make this year.
1. It Fills the Slow Nights
Let’s face it—Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and even some Thursdays can be quieter than a mime convention. But comedy thrives on these “off nights.” It gives people a reason to go out when they wouldn’t otherwise. Instead of sitting on the couch rewatching a show for the third time, they’re sitting in your seats, ordering drinks, and talking about your venue the next day.
2. Low Cost, High Return
You don’t need fireworks or a full band to pull off a comedy night. All it takes is:
- A microphone
- A spotlight
- A few chairs
- And at least one person brave enough to stand in front of strangers and try to make them laugh
Comedians are (usually) affordable. They bring big value with minimal setup—and unlike bands, they don’t ask for a rider with gourmet hummus and three kinds of tea.
3. Fresh Entertainment Means a Memorable Experience
People remember where they laughed. A good set creates a lasting memory. And when someone’s friend says, “Know any good places around here?” they’ll say, “There’s this spot that does comedy on Wednesdays. It’s actually really good.”
That’s word of mouth. That’s buzz. That’s free promotion.
4. It Builds a Loyal Community
Comedy has a way of drawing regulars. Local comedians bring their friends, family, and fans. Audience members start showing up week after week. Before you know it, your venue becomes the place people associate with good times, fun memories, and real human connection.
And loyal crowds don’t just come—they stay. They drink more, they tip better, and they’ll come back for trivia night, karaoke, or whatever else you throw at them.
5. It’s Easy to Customize
You want clean comedy? Edgy material? All-local talent? A showcase of up-and-comers or a polished headliner? Comedy nights are totally flexible. You can adapt them to suit your audience and your brand.
You could even make it themed—“Teachers Tell Jokes,” “Divorced Dads of Comedy,” or “Comedians Who Look Like Your Uncle.” Whatever works for your crowd.
6. It Sets Your Venue Apart
Bars are everywhere. Restaurants are everywhere. But a place that turns into a live comedy venue once a week? That’s something people remember. Comedy gives your business personality—and personality stands out.
Bottom Line
A comedy night isn’t just a show. It’s an experience, a community builder, and a money-maker all in one. If you’ve got the space, the vibe, and a sense of humor, you’ve got everything you need.
Clear a little space. Set up a mic. And get ready to turn a slow night into the highlight of someone’s week.
Now, CLICK HERE to be taken to my contact page, and…
BOOK A COMEDIAN!
(Now, because the SEO is being a pain in my butt, here’s that phrase several more times.)
Book a comedian.
(That’s one.)
Book a comedian.
(That’s two.)
Book a comedian.
(Google SEO is just a pain in my butt.)
Book a comedian.
(Now I’m just getting annoyed by Google.)