Doing standup at an event NOT at a comedy club
"The more of these things you have, the better chance it will kill at your event."
You’re booking me because you like the comedy you’ve seen me do. I’m going to do that comedy at your event, proven material that has killed before. The more of these things you have, the better chance it will kill at your event and your guests will have a good time, enjoying the entertainer you booked for your event.
Here’s the list from Keith:
Lights. Make sure the comedian is well lit and the guests are in as dark a room as possible. Laughing is like dancing. People are more likely to do it if they feel like no one’s watching.
A mic and a PA. Even if you only have a dozen people in a small room, it makes a big difference having the comedian mic’d. It makes it a real show, and allows the performer to rise above any chatter and busy-ness.
A stool and a mic stand. I might only use the mic stand for a few seconds, but again it’s a real show with a mic stand and a stool. These are the tools of the trade and they are shorthand for “We’ve got a comedy show”.
A raised stage. Even a tiny stage makes a big difference. Standing on the floor in an area where the tables and chairs have been pushed back is a huge obstacle.
A seated audience, packed together. Nobody wants to stand through a comedy show and they’ll have trouble focusing on the show if they’re standing. People laugh more when they’re crowded together a bit. Big crowds don’t make me nervous. Small crowds in big rooms make me nervous. Try to only have enough chairs for the number of guests you expect. You can have back up chairs that you pull out as needed. If people are seated around tables, don’t spread the tables out too much. Again, people want to be close together when they’re sharing laughter.
30 minutes is a better value than 60. Comedy in the middle of a social event is the ultimate less-is-more situation. 30 minutes is perfect. Give them some laughs, help them relax and unwind a little, and then let them get back to hanging out with each other.
Don’t do too much. If the audience has already been there for hours before the comic goes up, especially if they’ve spent most of that time seated listening to other speakers, they’re going to be exhausted. There’s a reason A-list comics only have one or two comics go up before them. Having the crowd warmed up is good, but having them worn out, not so much.
Related:
Running a room: 10 things that ruin comedy shows
So let's say you're thinking about starting a comedy room. Obviously, ya want funny comics and a decent audience. But there's more to it than just that.