Comedian: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering comedian
You offer stand-up and hosting for corporate events, parties, fundraisers and private shows. This guide covers what customers ask, how to win the booking and what to show on your profile.
What customers ask
- What content level do you perform at for corporate events?
- Can you write material about our company or our guests?
- Can I see a clip of a set in a room like mine?
- How do you handle a crowd that does not laugh?
- What topics do you avoid?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask about the event purpose, the audience, the content level and any topics to avoid before you talk about the booking
- Send a clip of a set in a similar room, labeled with the content level and audience type
- Put the set length, the hosting duties, the content level and the custom material plan in the written quote
- Ask for names, roles and topics the customer is comfortable with, and confirm them in writing
- Confirm the stage, microphone and light needs with the venue before the event
- Offer a short review of any custom material with the customer before the show
- Say what you do if your set time is cut short or the lineup changes, and who covers if you are ill
What to put on your profile
- Video clips of sets, labeled by content level and event type
- Photos of you on stage at real events
- A list of the event types you perform for, such as corporate, private and charity
- Your insurance status and the venue types where you have performed
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a short call after the event to review what landed and what to change next time
- Suggest a custom material review before the show, so the customer can check every line
- Recommend a short hosting plan for the rest of the program, with time cues agreed in advance
Licenses and permits
No state license is usually required for comedy performance. Carry general liability insurance, any local business license that applies and a written note of the venue's rules for alcohol or public shows, and check state and local requirements with your licensing agency before taking jobs.
Questions
Do I need a permit for a public comedy show?
Possibly. Public shows and venues with alcohol service can have their own rules. Ask the venue and check with your state or local licensing agency before the show.
How do I handle a heckler?
Keep it light and brief, and never target a guest in a way that embarrasses them. Agree on the boundaries with the host before the show.
Can I use material about a real person?
Only with the person's agreement, and only what the customer and the person are comfortable with. Avoid anything that could hurt someone's reputation.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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