A stand-up comedian can be a great addition
to most events if you do your homework and are willing to abide by a few
good rules of thumb before taking the plunge and actually booking a
comedian for your next private event. Our company has been providing
comedians for all types of events for over 20 years and we have learned
that there are certain requirements that MUST be met in order for a comedy
show to be successful in this environment. If these rules are
followed; you can have an amazing and laugh filled event with many
satisfied guests! So I will list the most important of these rules of
engagement.
- A comedian requires an audience that enjoys live comedy and is
made aware in advance that there will be a comedy show at the specified
event. Do not plan on surprising an audience with a comedian
because they will not be in the "I'm ready to laugh" state of mind" and
it will take much more time for the show to get rolling if it will even
get rolling at all. A private event puts people at a comedy show
that really didn't choose to be there for comedy. When people
don't intentionally pay for a ticket to see a comedy show, they tend to
not really have any respect or perceived value to what is being
performed. Believe it or not, there are many people that do not
enjoy stand up comedy shows, so its better to at least notify them of
this in advance and always give them a second option, which leads us to
the number 2 rule.
- Not during dinner. Eating and comedians don't mix so
please be sure to plan the start time of your show after dinner is
cleared from the tables. There have also been problems in the past
with people choking on food because they were laughing while swallowing.
This isn't the way most comics want to "kill" when on stage. The
best time is about 10 minutes after the plates have been cleared and
your guests have had time to refresh their drinks and visit the
restrooms. Most people serve dessert immediately after the show
ends but some people do it during the show...not the best idea, but it
can be done.
- A comedian requires a quite and attentive crowd in order to be
effective. If your crowd isn't interested in comedy and would
rather be making conversation, that's exactly what they will do.
This is a nightmare for any comedian because it is extremely distracting
to have to talk over a group of people who have started a conversation
in the same room the show is going on. Much like a "talker"
irritates you when you are at a movie theater and trying to watch a
movie. Make sure that it is very clear that you require everyone
to stop their conversations and shut off cell phone ringers while the
show is in progress. Its also a great idea to have an outside area
that people may go to in order to have a conversation or make phone
calls that is outside of the show room.
- Everyone must be seated. This is somewhat of an overlap
of rule 2 but it must be said. If your event is a social stand-up
party with people milling around, there is a very slim chance that the
comedian will be able to hold anyone's attention for very long.
Unless, the comedian is of a visual prop or musical nature. Even
then, it can be a very tough crowd to entertain. The best
situation is to have a seat for every guest. Tables are optional
because theater style seating works just as well. The only
downside is that there is no place to put refreshments in a theater
style seating. When arranging the seats, always start the first
row or tables as close as possible to the stage. there should be
no more than 5 feet between the first row and the front of the stage.
If you require a dance floor for after the show, plan on moving the
chairs when the show is over. Comedy is an intimate type of show
and the connection between the comedian and the audience is key to its
success. The larger the audience, the less this becomes important
but if you have under 400 people at the event, follow this rule to the
"T".
- A comedian requires a good P.A. sound system. I am NOT
talking about the microphone in a hotel banquet room with the speakers
that are mounted in the ceiling tiles. This is NOT a good sound
system. A comedians voice is his tool of trade and if its
distorted in any way, it will greatly effect the quality of the show.
We have seen some of the funniest comedians "die" on stage because the
audience could not understand what they were saying. The ideal
sound system is the same kind you would use if you were to have a DJ or
Band
supply music for your event. If you plan on having a DJ or Band at the
event in addition to the comedian, ask if they can supply their PA for
the comedy show portion of the event. If not, you can always rent
a professional style PA system from a local music store. Many hotels can
supply a professional PA but they will charge you 3 to 4 times what you
would pay from an outside DJ company or music store. Some comedy
agencies can supply or handle the sound system rental for you...just
ask. Bottom line is "Don't skimp on the sound".
(By the way...P.A. stands for Public Address)
- You need to have bright white light. The room light
should be dimmed to 20% during the show and the stage lights should be
at 100%. There are many styles of lights out there and we don't
have the space to explain them all so lets make this simple. The
comedians body should be lit up so the person in the back row can see
their face as clear as possible. The best lights are stage
fresnel lights that supply a bright wide white light that will light
the comedian without blinding him. Its always better to have 2 or
more wide spots that will flood the stage but not hamper the comedians
ability to see and interact with the crowd. Some venues will say
they have lighting but most of the time they are not adequate. Ask
your comedy agent to assist with this if possible. You can do a
show without stage lighting but are sacrificing a large part of the
presentation and professionalism of the show.
We hope this information was helpful and we hope you follow these
simple rules to assure that your next comedy show is a great success.
A comedian always sounds like a fun idea but unfortunately if you don't
put the time and effort into the production of the show, it could be a
disaster. So make sure your event is a good fit for your audience
before adding a comedian to the intermarry.
Also make sure you work with a reputable comedy agency who will assist you
in finding the right comedian for your event. Make sure they are
more concerned about the welfare of the show more than the welfare of
their pocket. If they give any indication that these rules aren't
important and will send you a comedian no matter what situation you plan
on putting them in...they only care about the money. We cant tell
you how many shows we have turned down and talked people out of because we
knew in our hearts it just wasn't a good idea. In the long run it
has paid off because our customers become customers for life.
We wish you the best of success with your event. We say "success"
and not "luck" because luck has nothing to do with it when you follow the
6 golden rules of hiring a comedian for a private party.
Give us a shout if we can answer any questions
info@funnyguyproductions.com
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