How to Hire a Comedian

You are on this page, so chances are you want to book a comedian. Most likely (if we’re lucky) you Googled “how to hire a comedian” and landed here. Well, you’ve come to the right place.

We’re happy to walk you through the simple process of booking a comedian. In fact, we think you’ve already made a good decision by considering a comedian for your next occasion.

Professional comedians work well for a variety of occasions, from religious get-togethers to Christmas parties, school events, or even fundraisers. And with several ratings to choose from (to say nothing of the countless styles of humor), we are confident you will find the comedian just right for your function.

Keep reading to learn how to book a comedian for an event, be it of the corporate variety or just a special occasion.

Step 1: Contact Us / Reach Out / Make Contact

To get the proverbial ball rolling, you need to make contact with the ball. Step one in how to hire a comedian is gathering all your key event details. To save yourself some time, make sure you know the venue, your price range, and the date and time of your event, as well as the type of entertainer you would like. You may not know the exact type of comedian you want—or you may think you know—and that’s okay. Stand-up comedy, to put it mildly, has a wide, wide range of styles. We will return to this a bit more in step 2, but it can’t hurt to start thinking of what type of comedy you want to go for.

Speaking of range, you will also need to give us a budget. As one of the most preeminent booking agencies for comedians and other entertainers, we have more than 2,000 performers at our disposal. And much like that “peculiar”-smelling fruit (the durian), the cost to book one of these entertainers sits on a wide spectrum.

Fortunately, there is a comedian for every budget.

We will also need to know the type of venue our entertainer will be performing in. This will help us determine the technical requirements and the expected audience size (which may also affect the budget).

Finally, we’ll need to know the date and time of the event. This will help us narrow down which comedians are available.

If you don’t feel like filling out a form or sending an email, we are happy to jump on a call to gather these details.

Here is a phrase you do not hear often: “The next step is actually quite a bit of fun.”

Step 2: Preview Some Comedians

As we said above, there are many types of stand-up comedians. Most get their start in comedy clubs, honing their comedic voice over many years. Some comedians specialize in corporate events, and others excel at private parties.

They are all funny in their own right, but just because you like pickled eel doesn’t mean you want it for breakfast

Likewise, the comedy you enjoy ensconced in a nightclub may not be the same comedy you think everyone would enjoy at the office Christmas party.

Luckily, we have access to thousands of comedians in our roster. So once we learn what type of comedy you’re leaning toward, we’ll send you clips of comedians we think would be a good fit

We should also note that many comedians are happy to tailor their material to suit different audiences. So if a comedian catches your eye but you worry they might be a bit racy for your event, don’t be discouraged. There’s a strong chance they can tweak their act for you.

With an abundance of national and local comedians, from clean to club-rated (basically what you’d encounter in an R-rated film), there are bound to be comedians who’ll catch your fancy.

The comedian booking prices will vary based on their prominence and location, but many are quite affordable.

The next step in how to hire a comedian is straightforward and as easy as can be—unless there are too many comedians that have you excited

Step 3: Pick a Comedian

After you’ve selected a few comedians who you like, it’s time to compare your choices. There is no one-size-fits-all process for how to hire a comedian, but after budget, one of your top priorities should probably be experience.

If you are looking to book a comedian for an event on a college campus, you probably want a comedian who has a history of performing at college campuses. Similarly, if you are looking for a corporate comedian, you will probably want to look at one of our entertainers who has performed stand-up comedy for corporate functions.

Before you book a comedian for an event, you will want to communicate any outstanding questions or concerns, e.g., travel costs, equipment requirements, set length—really anything of the logistical nature.

The next step before you enjoy the comedy act is straightforward but nonetheless highly important for you and the performer.

Step 4: Sign the Contract

As anyone who’s signed a contract knows, signing one protects both parties. So while the contract is only a simple one-page affair, it behooves you to read it carefully. The contract includes pertinent details like payment schedules, cancellation policies, and possible rider requirements—prerequisites for performers, which generally fall into two categories: technical and hospitality.

Technical requirements consist of performance-related necessities, such as a sound system and stage setup. Hospitality requirements are more for the entertainer’s comfort, which can include specific food requests, a green room, or stage-side needs, e.g., a stool or table or a glass of water within reach.

The riders can vary widely by performer, and for some high-end performers, such as Daniel Tosh, they can even skew toward the surprising. That is, colleges are asked to “provide a book you think Daniel might like to read.”

This is another reason why you want to review the contract carefully—say, you think a rider requirement may exceed what you’re willing to obtain, albeit these cases tend to be few and far between.

At this point, you may also need to coordinate with the venue to ensure the stage, sound system, and lighting meet the comedian’s requirements.
The final “step” in how to hire a comedian is undoubtedly the least arduous.

Step 5: Enjoy the Show!

This step is self-explanatory, but we do sincerely hope you have a great time. We’ve been in the comedy business for decades, and we’re thrilled you picked us—from the moment you searched “how to hire a comedian,” or “how to book comedians,” or maybe even “comedian booking prices”—till you read this sentence, we consider it an honor to provide you with a comedian. Few other industries (if any, really) are solely devoted to making people laugh, and we love being in it.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Comedian?

Asking, “How much does it cost to hire a comedian?” is a bit like asking, “How much does a car cost?” In short: the cost is variable. A well-known comedian may cost a couple thousand dollars, especially if they are performing for a large audience, but local comedians (who don’t have far to travel) and lesser-known acts can cost a couple hundred.

However, unlike buying a car, comedian booking prices are not closely associated with quality. A comedian who costs significantly less than one who is a household name is no less funny than their peer.

Also, unlike buying a cheap car, say a used model, our comedians are highly unlikely to have parts fall off or require any immediate attention to their well-being that could prevent them from being of service. You also cannot put them in a baling press without serious legal ramifications.

Moreover, when it comes to costs, a local comedian will most likely have fewer travel costs than a non-local comedian.

So, like much in life, the question is, “How much does it cost to hire a comedian?” The answer: it depends on many factors.

Book Any Comedy Style for Any Event

If you’re wondering if a comedian is right for your event, the answer is yes. Even eulogies can benefit from a bit of levity to lighten such a somber occasion (not that we get many requests for funerals, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a well-calculated joke in your next eulogy). We can add an extra bit of flavor to a bridal shower, confirmation, or bar/bat mitzvah.

Just about any occasion is nicely complemented by a stand-up comedian at the helm. Whether we realize it or not, we desperately want someone to make us laugh. It’s why your “funny friend” has that designation—being funny is highly desirable, but not everyone can actually be funny.

With thousands of comedians in our roster, we’re certain to have just the right person for your event. And if you really want to make the event special, we also have celebrity comedians who can be booked. So if you enjoyed Tim Meadows on SNL, in “Mean Girls,” or perhaps “Peacemaker” (fingers crossed they one day find a cure for “bird blindness”)—you should consider booking him for your next special occasion.

Book Today

At Hire a Comedian, we’ve been bringing professional comedians to various events for decades. We think it’s more than fair to say we know how to bring the funny. Literally. So give us a call at (407) 728-9035 or shoot us an email at comedianbooker@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.