How to Hire a Comedian for Your Event

Hiring a comedian for your event involves choosing a performer whose style, material and delivery suit your audience and the purpose of your occasion. The process includes deciding what kind of comedy you need, reviewing suitable acts, checking their experience with similar events, and confirming all technical and logistical requirements before booking. When done well, a comedian can elevate the atmosphere, connect with the room and create a memorable moment in your event programme. This guide explains exactly how to make the right choice and what to consider at each step so your comedian enhances, not disrupts, your event.

Here at Speakers Corner, we’re experts in comedy. We’ve put our heads together to come up with the following top tips to ensure that you know how to book the best comedian for your event...

Determine Your Event's Needs

First things first - what is the purpose of your event? Whether it’s a charity fundraiser, an after-dinner show or a company awards evening, the wide range of comedy styles available means that there is the perfect comedic pairing for you!

If your event is more corporate, don’t go for someone who’s a regular at the local comedy club, odds are they won’t be corporate friendly! However, don’t feel as though you have to choose someone who is too safe it isn’t enjoyable to watch – it's about finding the perfect balance.

It’s important to consider if there’s anything the comedian should be avoiding – such as swearing or risqué topics that would be inappropriate for the tone of the event, as this impacts what acts will be in your shortlist.

Research Potential Comedians

Being knowledgeable of the comedy circuit will be a huge help for when you begin your search for the perfect comedian for your corporate event.

Whether you’re after a seasoned professional who is a regular on our television screens, or someone who’s an upcoming star fresh from the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival, knowing the industry will greatly aid you in your research.

A good place to start here would be watching comedian’s showreels and live performances, as these will give you a confident understanding of what you can expect from them!

Evaluate Comedian Options

Whilst it’s good to have some background knowledge on the wide world of comedy, there is so much information out there that can be extremely overwhelming. However, do not fret - we are here to help!

When evaluating those on your shortlist, it’s important to ask yourself what you’re after from the comedian. Do you want someone more corporate friendly with a safer set, such as Rob Beckett, Ellie Taylor or Jo Caulfield, or are you keen to push the boat out further and take a risk on someone raunchier, such as Mickey Flanagan, Jack Whitehall or Helen Bauer? Evaluating the options is so important, and ultimately, who you choose must link back to the event’s objectives and audience requirements.

Consider Your Event's Logistics

Whilst this initially may seem irrelevant to the comedian selection process, where the event is happening makes a huge impact on who can come to your event. This includes limiting your comedian options, as where they are based may mean that they either can’t get to your event, or it may cost an arm and a leg to get them there – thus impacting your event budget.

If your event is in London and your comedian is based in Spain, think of the overhead costs you will have to pay out before the event even begins!

The timings and logistics of the event are everything and can make a huge impact on the comedian you end up having at your event. Considering when you want them to come on stage can also impact who you hire, as some comedians may have specific timing requirements. It's important to communicate these with everyone involved in the event planning process.

Communicate Your Expectations

The best thing to do when it comes to sharing your event’s expectations, is to discuss them with a speaker’s bureau/agency’s Account Manager. This will ensure that you get the best matched comedian possible for your event due to the impartial expert’s professional knowledge. Communicating your event’s needs and expectations with a speaker’s bureau (just like us here at Speakers Corner) will result in your final shortlisted comedians being the best of the best, as doing this alone can be a lot to take on!

This also helps the comedian tailor their material to your specific event, ensuring that they also have the best experience possible. Talking about topics the comedian should avoid and/or focus on, along with sharing details about the audience that the comedian can home in on, will help everyone involved have a positive experience.

This is a two-way street, and the comedian should also ensure that they communicate their requirements and expectations with the client to make sure the event runs smoothly – especially if it’s a bespoke event!

Plan for a Successful Performance

The best way to guarantee success is to plan, plan, plan! Allocating timings to different parts of the event will make sure that you keep on track, ensuring that no part of the event runs over and/or gets cut short. For example, if you allocate the first hour or so of the event to networking, you give guests time to arrive and have a warm welcome, rather than being suddenly thrown into the deep of the event.

It’s also important to remember that it’s likely things won’t go exactly as planned on the day due to an abundance of reasons – transport or weather issues, for example. However, being aware of this and planning for these problems to occur will not only save you last minute stress, it will also put your mind at ease.

Have you communicated with the venue about your expectations? Doing this will also help them help you in the best way possible – communication is key!

How to Brief a Comedian So Their Performance Lands Perfectly

A strong brief is one of the most important parts of hiring a comedian. It ensures the act is relevant, safe for your audience and smoothly integrated into your event.

• Share audience insights, not just demographics - Beyond age or industry, explain the audience’s mood, expectations and any sensitivities. Let the comedian know whether people are relaxed, formal, tired from a long conference day or arriving directly from workshops. This helps them pitch energy and tone correctly.
• Clarify event purpose and your desired impact - Tell the comedian what the event is aiming to achieve: a morale boost, a celebratory moment, a lighter tone between serious sessions, or a high energy close. This gives them context to shape their set and tailor material that genuinely supports your event goals.
• Be explicit about topics to avoid - Event audiences vary widely in background and comfort levels. List any content boundaries such as politics, company sensitive issues, cultural topics or strong language. Clear guardrails help comedians stay appropriate without limiting their creativity.
• Agree on timing and transitions in advance - Let the comedian know exactly when they are entering the programme, what happens right before them, and who is on stage after. Smooth transitions help maintain audience attention and prevent awkward resets.
• Explain technical expectations clearly - Some comedians rely on handheld mics, others prefer headsets or require sound cues. Share the equipment plan, stage layout and any constraints early so the performance feels polished on the day.

A thoughtful brief strengthens the partnership between you and the comedian, reduces risk and creates a performance that feels perfectly placed within your event.

We know how overwhelming it can be to find the perfect comedian for your event, which is why we’re here to help you! We take away the stresses of finding your entertainment, so you can redirect these efforts into making other aspects of your event the best they can be.

To find out in detail how we can help you, get in touch with our friendly and impartial team, who will be more than happy to discuss your options with you! Give us a call on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email us at info@speakerscorner.co.uk

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