In the opinion of e.e. cummings, a day without laughter is a day wasted. So arranging for a comic interlude for your next corporate event may be the perfect remedy for the widespread recession blues that plague today’s world. Finding a good comedian may seem like a Herculean task, but with these handy tips, it might be easier than you had imagined.
Determine your target audience:
Is your event a corporate meeting, a leisurely family retreat, or a fundraiser? The constituent audience in each of these types of events will differ slightly, affecting your choice of comedian. For instance, if children are likely to be present, you would want to opt for a clean comedian. What is the age group that your guests fall in? Think about what kind of comedy that will tickle your target audience’s funny bone.
Make the arrangements:
The day, time, venue and a general overview of the itinerary for the event need to be determined well is advance. Work out a rough budgetary estimate and settle on a price that you are prepared to offer the comedian.
Be clear about what type of humour you want at your event. You may want the humour to match the theme of the event. Think about whether you want the comedian’s act to be a spot of light-hearted humour or have a message embedded between the lines.
Book the comedian:
Ideally one should book a comedian a few months in advance. If you start looking early, you are likely to get a wider range of options to choose from. Once you’ve sourced a few comedians through an agency, or personal connections, go through their website.
Ask the comedian about prior experiences and if they have received any awards. Go through the comedian’s listed testimonials. Calling previous clients is an excellent way to get a sense of quality.
Ask for sample tapes of their performance and try to find more videos on the internet. Humour is a highly subjective thing. What one person finds funny, another may find offensive or simply dull, so if you get the chance, see a live performance and judge their comic quotient for yourself.
Help the comedian to reach out to the audience:
Keep in touch with the comedian and ensure that the jokes in the act are appropriate for your audience. Make sure that the comedian is not hurting anyone’s sentiments by cracking sexist or racist jokes. Familiarize the comedian with the demographics of the audience so that he is prepared when he comes on stage.
There is no foolproof guarantee that the comedian you select will be appreciated by one and all. Trust your gut instinct. Get a second opinion if you are unsure of your choice. With the right background checks, the comedian hired by you will dazzle the audience and make your event a success.
For 25 year, Funny Business Agency has been a top resource for companies and event planners looking for expertise in the corporate entertainment market. With over 3,000 entertainers and events nationwide, Funny Business has provided entertainment for such companies as Legos, General Foods, Kelloggs, Pfizer, Honda Transmissions, Frito Lay, Iams, Proctor & Gamble, Perrigo and more. You can check out more at: http://www.funny-business.com
