Virtual Comedians for Zoom Shows
We’re great at virtual stand-up comedy shows!
We do virtual corporate comedy shows, virtual charity comedy shows for fundraising, virtual shows for alumni groups, virtual shows for private parties, all sorts of virtual comedy events. Our comedians have performed on late-night TV and their own comedy specials. See our roster of clean comedians.
Is your team remote? Are your donors spread out across the country? Yes, we still do Zoom shows.
To book clean corporate comedians for a virtual show, for free advice, or just to ask questions, call or text us at (914) it’s-funny (914) 487-3866 or email Shaun {at} TheIvyLeagueofComedy {dot} com.
Book us now (or just ask for advice)
I’ve been doing virtual shows since early 2020 so I’ve long figured out how to work the new medium. Some of the corporate virtual shows I’ve done have been among the most fun I’ve had on stage, or whatever you call sitting in my office chair talking to a flat piece of glass.
The pandemic was tough on our industry as just about all live entertainment shut down. We started doing outdoor shows and shows over the web. At first it was a challenge. It’s not just the comedian who needs to hear the laughter. Audience members should hear other people laughing. Laughter is contagious and it spreads better when it’s contained. I’ve said that the secret to comedy is 100 people in a room that holds 70. That’s why comedy clubs are cramped and have low ceilings. So laughter can echo.
At outdoor shows the laughter dissipates. People have fun but it’s best if they can also hear how much fun everyone else is having. Comics are used to telling a joke, hearing a few people laugh immediately and then watching laughter spread until the whole audience is laughing. When we started doing virtual shows it was difficult. We’d hit a punchline, pause for laughter and not hear any. So we’d start talking again.
And that was the wrong thing to do. Because of the short time delay inherent in Zoom and other online meeting platforms, we needed to pause. Not resume talking. In comedy we call that stepping on your laughter. It’s bad to resume talking while people are still laughing. They want to hear what we have to say so they stop laughing. It’s essentially training the audience to laugh less. And obviously that’s bad.
With the time delays introduced by virtual shows a comedian would tell a joke, not hear a laugh, and then start talking again. We had to learn how to perform with very different timing. Tell a joke. Then shut up. A few people will laugh but it may take a second for that to be heard by everyone else. Then they laugh but that will also take another second to be heard. So… tell a joke, count to three in your head, wait for the laughter.
This wasn’t so hard for me because I have one joke where the silence is the actual punch line. So I’m used to telling that joke… then waiting. Sometimes I have to wait 2 or 3 seconds for the audience to understand that the silence is the point. It seems like forever but I know they’re going to laugh.
Even with in-person shows back, virtual shows are still a good option. You may not be able to hire a comedian to come to your event for just a few hundred dollars. But if you’re having a virtual event you can still have great, fun entertainment that is inexpensive and affordable. And in a way it’s easier for the audience to interact virtually because if they’re at home in front of their screen they aren’t physically surrounded by co-workers and management. I’ve seen people seem much looser virtually than I would expect in-person. Of course they could have been drunk the whole time. You can’t smell alcohol over the web and I’m sure there are filters that will hide your red eyes.
More information on Virtual Stand-up Comedy Shows
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 pleasurable experiences live on in our memory. A comedy show is a great, fun experience!
For a live or virtual event or meeting you can have an affordable pro comedian perform for and interact with your group. Email for details: advice isn’t inexpensive, it’s free!
FAQ about virtual stand-up comedy shows
How much do your virtual shows cost?
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Virtual stand-up comedy shows are much, much less expensive than in-person shows, especially if they're during the week and in the daytime. Shows like that may be only a few hundred dollars (more if it's more than one comedian). Email, call or text us for a quote. Advice is free!
How long is a typical virtual comedy show?
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For a virtual corporate show we suggest 20 to 30 minutes. People have shorter attention spans when looking at a screen, and they're more easily distracted. For in-person corporate events we typically recommend 30 minutes.
How many people can attend a virtual comedy show?
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The audience size for a virtual comedy show is limited by the technology or your account, not by the comedy. But for a larger group you’ll need a moderator or two whose job it is to mute people who forgot their mic is on and start talking, or a phone rings, or a dog barks.... We do want their mics on so we can hear laughter and ask questions, but not if it’s disruptive.
Can you perform on Microsoft Teams or Webex, or only Zoom?
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We’ll use whatever platform you want.
Who sets up the Zoom link, you or us?
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This is up to you. We’re happy to use our account or yours.
Do you interact with the audience in a virtual show?
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Yes, we do some audience interaction, especially if it's a team-building event. In some ways this works even better than with an in-person show, because both faces are right up front for everyone to see. Whereas at a live event, while people may hear an audience member speaking to the comedian, most of the audience can't see the person.
Do we need to have our cameras and mics on?
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Yes, we absolutely need to have a critical mass of cameras and mics on. Especially if this is a corporate event, if people's cameras and mics are off they can easily get distracted and start checking their email or social media. Comedy requires the audience's full attention. We also need to hear their laughter. That's very important for a comedy show.
Can you do a hybrid comedy show, with some people in the room and some online?
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The Ivy League of Comedy is happy to do a hybrid comedy show, whether we’re in the room with part of the audience or performing online for everyone.
Can you perform for a team spread across different countries and time zones?
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Of course we can do virtual shows when the audience is worldwide. When the audience is faces and voices on a screen, it doesn’t matter to The Ivy League of Comedy where they are.
Do virtual shows work well for corporate or team-building events?
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They work very well! Teams at companies like Novartis and Charles Schwab have loved our virtual shows. See our testimonials on the right (or below, if you're on a phone or tablet).
Can the comedian customize jokes for our remote team or company?
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Comedians from The Ivy League of Comedy are happy to customize jokes for your organization, but it will cost extra as it’s extra work to write custom jokes.
Mistakes event planners make when booking comedians
Summary/Conclusion
Do comedians still do virtual shows? We do! The professional comedians from The Ivy League of Comedy are experts at Zoom shows. There’s a trick to it (pausing longer for the laughter), and we know how to make people laugh even when we’re not in the same room and the audience is spread out all over the world. Questions? Call, text or email and let’s get started!
Book us now (or just ask for advice)
For more information or to reserve a date call, text or email:
Shaun Eli Breidbart
Comedian & Executive Director
The Ivy League of Comedysm
Liberty Comedy Corp.
Call or text us at (914) it’s-funny (914) 487-3866
Email Shaun {at} TheIvyLeagueofComedy {dot} com