How to Book Comedians for a Private Party
You’ve seen us on TV. Some stand-up comedians from The Ivy League of Comedy are available for hire to entertain at your private party. Book us for live or virtual stand-up comedy. You can hire us for everything from an informal back yard family get-together to a formal, catered event in your mansion or at a rented venue.
Studies have shown that people value experiences more than we value possessions. The pleasure we get from buying something new wears off very quickly but a pleasurable experience lives on in our memory. A comedy show is a great, fun experience!
We’ve been in business since 2004 and our company is run by a Wharton-educated, New York Times featured comedian who has headlined shows on six continents. Comedy is all we do- we’re not some big booking agency that mostly hires musicians but added comedy to their roster just to have a larger product line.
We Are The Comedy Experts. Hire Us Today (or tomorrow; we’re not in a rush)
Private parties are different from a show at a theatre, comedy club or charity event.
A few things to note when booking one (or more) of our comedians:
- Many of us worked in other professions – law, finance, architecture, education, engineering, insurance, marketing, publishing – before becoming comedians. We may have humor specifically about what you or your guests do for a living, and we understand your business. Ask us.
- With very few exceptions, comedians really don’t like hecklers. At a comedy club most of us are pretty good at shutting them down. We use various techniques, depending upon the type of heckler (the drunk who thinks he’s just in a conversation is different from a bachelorette party, which is different from the guy who wants to impress his friends by trying to show how much funnier he is than the person on stage, etc.). At a private party it’s a little different. The heckler is neither anonymous nor invisible, and our responses are more limited.
But our goals for the show are also different. We’re there to make sure your guests have a good time. So we may view ourselves not as the center-of-attention entertainer but more like The Facilitator Of Fun (the Funcilitator!sm). If your friends interrupt and we just converse with them, and everybody’s laughing, that’s fine. If your friend gets plenty of laughs too we’re good with that- as long as everybody’s having a good time.
Most of us are very skilled at what’s known in comedy as Crowd Work- conversing with the audience. You may see this at the start of a comedy club show when the emcee asks some people in the front where they’re from, what they do for a living, etc.
The purpose of crowd work is to get the audience used to the idea that someone will be taking over the conversation, to build a connection with the audience, and to get the laughter started. It’s an odd psychological dynamic to just sit and listen to a stranger and laugh. Crowd work helps break through that.
- If you book us, here’s what we won’t do- we won’t make fun of you or your guests (unless we’re provoked). Sure, some people like the attention but it’s not easy to tell the difference between someone who wants the attention and someone who’s unhappy but is trying hard not to show it. So we don’t pick on audiences.
- If you want to try a few jokes we’re happy to accommodate. Be aware that you won’t look great compared to the professional you’ve hired- we’ve all done thousands of shows and we tell original jokes. Not jokes half your friends have already heard. But here’s something we can do- we can help you write your own material. We can also provide lessons so that by the time your party rolls around you’ll be ready to tell a few minutes’ worth of jokes. Many of us aren’t just performers but also comedy instructors. And your friends know you’re not a professional comedian.
- The audience needs to be seated and facing the comedian. When you book us, we will work with you prior to the event to talk about where to put the ‘stage’ and how to arrange the lighting. It’s best if the comedian stands near the center of the longer wall in the room and is well-illuminated while the rest of the room is darker. We can provide stage lighting. Or could could buy, borrow or rent a spotlight.
- We recommend a performance of around a half-hour. If the audience wants us to keep going they’ll let us know. A typical stand-up comedy show is much longer but then it’s the focus of the evening. At your party your guests will want to eat and socialize with each other and we should allow time for that.
- We prefer that the entertainment be post-dinner. Have the meal, clean up, then have the show. You don’t want people choking because they’re laughing and swallowing at the same time. You also want their sole attention on the comedy show. If your schedule is tight and you want the performance during dessert we can accommodate that but please, no dessert cart. That is super-distracting to the audience. We learned that the hard way!
- We may ask you questions about your group so that we can select the optimum entertainer for your party. If you want something specific please don’t hesitate to ask.
FAQ about hiring a comedian for a private party
How much does it cost to hire a professional stand-up comedian for a private party or birthday? +
A hard question to answer. Where are you located? If you’re near a city with a lot of pro comics (New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Austin, a few others) then there are great comedians nearby. The Ivy League of Comedy has a roster of several dozen hilarious and affordable comedians. Outside of major urban areas you’re not as likely to find much of a selection of professional comedians.
What night or day of the week? (Evenings are more expensive than daytime, and weekends more expensive that weekdays/nights)
If you live in an area with a decently-sized comedian population, a rough guess, depending on the comic, is maybe $750 for a Saturday night, says The Ivy League of Comedy’s Shaun Eli. But if you’re talking about a larger crowd, or you’re quite well off, it’ll probably be more. Does that sound like gouging the rich? It’s really the other way around, it’s a discount for the majority of the population who can’t really afford what we’re worth.
Do comedians charge by the hour, by the set length, or a flat fee for private events? +
The cost would be higher for a longer set. But, says The Ivy League of Comedy’s Shaun Eli, really most of what you’re paying for is to have us show up. The difference between 30 or 45 minutes is obviously only 15 minutes. But if you look at the total time expense, we probably drove an hour, had to allow for traffic delays, got there early to check out the room set-up and other factors, and maybe stuck around afterwards. So that 15 minutes isn’t 15 out of 45 minutes, it’s 15 minutes out of 4 hours.
What additional expenses (travel, lodging, sound equipment rental) do I need to budget for when hiring a comedian? +
You’ll need a sound system, so you’ll have to buy, borrow or rent one if the comedian doesn’t have one (some of us do, but not all of us, and I have three). Travel and lodging, if not built into the fee you’re paying, will be an extra cost. You can see where the comedian’s coming from and figure out if they’ll need to fly or stay overnight. The Ivy League of Comedy prefers to build all the travel expenses into a flat fee, to make it simpler for you.
What is different about performing for a private party rather than in a theatre, a comedy club or at a corporate event? +
A private party is way different. Often if it’s a small group, like a family or group of friends, they all know each other and they want to be part of the show. I don’t have a problem with that, as long as it stays friendly, says The Ivy League of Comedy’s Shaun Eli.
I did a private party recently where the audience interrupted so much I couldn’t get through a joke, but that was okay since they were all having fun. It just became a bunch of conversations with the audience— what comedians call crowd work.
There was plenty of laughter, but really I’m not sure how much of it I was responsible for. And that was fine. I realized that in that situation I was more a facilitator of fun than an actual stand-up comedian. They all had a great time.
I was prepared for someone to say that I was just standing there. And I was ready with the response that it was my job to make sure that everybody had fun, and they did, and it wouldn’t have been nearly the same evening without me. But that didn’t happen— everybody was very happy and the person who hired me was thrilled with his birthday party.
Judging by the size of his house he was probably quite wealthy, and people like that are used to getting their own way. So if he’d been anything less than very happy he would have made that known.
Can I ask a comedian to keep their material clean and family-friendly for an all-ages party? +
Yes, absolutely. And ask this right upfront. You don’t want to waste your time or the comedian’s time if you have requirements they can’t meet. Tell them exactly what you’re looking for. The Ivy League of Comedy specializes in clean stand-up comedy.
And as far as all-ages? Very, very few comedians have material, even clean, that will entertain both adults and children. The kind of jokes that adults love? Kids won’t understand them.
Do private party comedians do research or write customized jokes about the guest of honor, the host, or company inside jokes? +
If you want us to, the comedians from The Ivy League of Comedy can. But if you want true customized comedy, it’ll cost you. It’s not easy to just sit down and write jokes on a given topic.
How do I make sure the comedian doesn’t cross any lines or offend guests at a corporate-sponsored private gathering? +
You should absolutely speak about this right away. Not every comedian is suitable for a corporate event. In fact most are not. Don’t assume that a comedian knows that a corporate show should be clean. A not-clean comedian figures you’re hiring them and you should know what they do. The Ivy League of Comedy specializes in clean and corporate comedy.
What kind of stage, lighting, and sound equipment does a comedian need for a backyard party or living room event? +
It’s better to be indoors, for a number of reasons, says The Ivy League of Comedy’s Shaun Eli. But, indoors or outdoors, a sound system that’s loud enough for the space (louder’s better- we can always speak more softly or hold the microphone farther away, but we can’t overcome a weak sound system) and a hand-held microphone. A stage and stage lighting are nice, but not necessary.
The comedian has to be seen, and if you can arrange the lights so that the comedian’s lit from the front and everybody else is in the dark, that’s best. And you can buy cheap trouble light (work light, clamp light) for ten or fifteen bucks. Buy a few of them, with extension cords, and light the comedian from the front from a few different places (from overhead if possible).
And note that the audience really needs to be seated, as close to the comedian as possible.
How much space does a comedian require to perform effectively? +
Not much. A few square feet. Most of us don’t move around that much.
How long is a typical stand-up set for a private party (e.g., 20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour)? +
It varies, but your guests want time to socialize. A half hour is fine. And the comedian should not be a surprise. The audience should be told, well in advance, that a comedian’s coming. But it’s your party. The Ivy League of Comedy is happy to give you guidance and answer any questions you might have.
How do I find a comedian whose comedic style matches the demographic and sense of humor of my guests? +
That’s up to your judgment. We don’t know you or your guests. But the demographics don’t have to match. You might want someone who’s not just like everyone at the party. Someone with a different point-of-view and different life experiences, says The Ivy League of Comedy’s Shaun Eli.
What is the best way to integrate a comedy set into a timeline that also includes dinner, speeches, and dancing? +
The Ivy League of Comedy suggests dinner, then the comedy, then speeches, then the dancing. Or, if the speeches aren’t too long you could have the comedian after the speeches. But it’s better before. Just make sure that people are finished eating, because you don’t want someone choking on their steak because they’re laughing.
How do I handle a crowd that might be distracted, eating, or drinking while the comedian is trying to perform? +
Best to finish a meal before you have the show. And try to eliminate any distractions— close window curtains, have the show in a separate room with the doors closed, turn off televisions, make sure everyone is seated. The Ivy League of Comedy is happy to provide guidance.
Where can I find reputable comedians or agencies that specialize in private events rather than public clubs? +
If you mean a private party for a family or group of friends, there really aren’t comedians who specifically specialize in events like that, but there are comedians who are particularly good at it. The Ivy League of Comedy has several comedians who are excellent for private social events. If you mean a country club, golf club, yacht club, flying club, that sort of thing, The Ivy League of Comedy’s comedians are particularly expert at entertaining those demographics. Almost all are college-educated and many have graduate degrees (including law).
What should I look for in a comedian’s demo reel to know if they are good at handling private parties? +
That’s a hard question to answer, because few if any comedians have video of them performing at a private party. Would you want somebody recording your party? Even if they happen to have video of them dealing with an audience, obviously they chose that particular video clip to show you, so it’s not necessarily representative of their work in general. It’s probably best to have a conversation with them and ask any questions you think of. And if they’re brusque with you, or evasive, well, if they’re that way before you’ve even hired them, I question how patient and nice they will be with your audience. You don’t want someone combative. You want it to be a party for everyone, including the comedian. The Ivy League of Comedy is happy to provide advice.
What kind of contract or rider should I expect to sign when booking a comedian for a private gig? +
A contract should cover more than just where, when, for how long and how much. A comedian’s contract should cover contingencies— better to have it spelled out in advance how things work, rather than having a misunderstanding or no guidelines for how to proceed if there are any issues.
So if the comedian’s contract is a half-page, and doesn’t say anything about a sound system, or what happens if it’s an outdoor event and it rains, or any number of other factors, you’re probably not dealing with a very experienced comedian. The head of The Ivy League of Comedy used to work as a risk manager, so he’s made sure that their contract is detailed. That said, it is friendly, not one-sided, and written in plain English. You don’t need to be a lawyer to understand it, and it’s written in English, with none of those fancy Latin legal terms you’d have to look up.
Even more Stand-up comedy booking FAQ here
Summary/Conclusion
Hiring comedians for a private party is vastly different from hiring them for a different type of event. You want someone who understands your audience- because you and your friends may have a lot in common, and it would be ideal for the comedian to understand that. Comedians from The Ivy League of Comedy have worked in a wide variety of professions, from law and banking to education, engineering, marketing, publishing, manufacturing and more. More than in a show at a theatre or at a corporate event, a comedian at a private party- where they guests may want more interaction- a comedian isn't just funny, he or she is the facilitator of fun. The Ivy League of Comedy's comedians are used to energetic crowds who want to be the center of attention, and they know just how to play that. They won't make fun of your guests, but when it's clear that the guests want to be part of the show, they will be. Visit The Ivy League of Comedy's website to learn more.
To hire a comedian for your private party please contact Shaun Eli: email Shaun (at) BrainChampagne dot com, or call or text (914) it's-funny (914) 487-3866