Supply and Demand: The closer you are to a large city, the more comedians there are to choose from and this will work in your favor. Most comedians understand that travel is part of the comedy business so don't worry if you are a few hours drive from a major city. Comedians will let you know if it’s an issue, even if it is, there are always other comedians to choose from.
Price – You can hire a great showcase of comedians even if you don't want to spend a lot? However, you must also realize that any comedian, who has a following, is getting a decent paycheck for what they do. So a following and talent will cost you, but you can make it back at the door. You can also expect to pay a few bucks more for a comedian that does extremely conservative or "clean" act because there are less of them and so they can charge more.
A stand-up comedian can be a great addition to most events if you do your homework and are willing to abide by a few good rules of thumb the most important of these rules of engagement.
A comedian requires an audience that enjoys live comedy and is made aware in advance that there will be a comedy show at the specified event. Do not plan on surprising an audience with a comedian because they will not be in the "I'm ready to laugh" state of mind" and it will take much more time for the show to get rolling if it will even get rolling at all. A private event puts people at a comedy show that really didn't choose to be there for comedy. When people don't intentionally pay for a ticket to see a comedy show, they tend to not really have any respect or perceived value to what is being performed. Believe it or not, there are many people that do not enjoy stand up comedy shows, so it’s better to at least notify them of this in advance and always give them a second option, which leads us to the number 2 rule.
Not during dinner. Eating and comedians don't mix so please be sure to plan the start time of your show after dinner is cleared from the tables. The distraction of everyone eating will put both performer and audience in a non conducive environment for a great show. There have also been problems in the past with people choking on food because they were laughing while swallowing. This isn't the way most comics want to "kill" when on stage. The best time is about 10 minutes after the plates have been cleared and your guests have had time to refresh their drinks and visit the restrooms. Most people serve dessert immediately after the show ends but some people do it during the show...not the best idea, but it can be done.
A comedian requires a quite and attentive crowd in order to be effective. If your crowd isn't interested in comedy and would rather be making conversation, that's exactly what they will do. This is a nightmare for any comedian because it is extremely distracting to have to talk over a group of people who have started a conversation in the same room the show is going on. Much like a "talker" irritates you when you are at a movie theater and trying to watch a movie. Make sure that it is very clear that you require everyone to stop their conversations and shut off cell phone ringers while the show is in progress. It’s also a great idea to have an outside area that people may go to in order to have a conversation or make phone calls that is outside of the show room.
Everyone must be seated. This is somewhat of an overlap of rule 2 but it must be said. If your event is a social stand-up party with people milling around, there is a very slim chance that the comedian will be able to hold anyone's attention for very long. Unless, the comedian is of a visual prop or musical nature. Even then, it can be a very tough crowd to entertain. The best situation is to have a seat for every guest. Tables are optional because theater style seating works just as well. The only downside is that there is no place to put refreshments in a theater style seating. When arranging the seats, always start the first row or tables as close as possible to the stage. There should be no more than 5 feet between the first row and the front of the stage. If you require a dance floor for after the show, plan on moving the chairs when the show is over or have the dance floor in the back of the room. Comedy is an intimate type of show and the connection between the comedian and the audience is key to its success. The larger the audience, the less this becomes important but if you have fewer than 400 people at the event, follow this rule to the "T".
A comedian requires a good P.A. sound system. I am NOT talking about the microphone in a hotel banquet room with the speakers that are mounted in the ceiling tiles. This is NOT a good sound system. A comedian’s voice is his tool of trade and if it’s distorted in any way, it will greatly effect the quality of the show. We have seen some of the funniest comedians "die" on stage because the audience could not understand what they were saying. The ideal sound system is the same kind you would use if you were to have a DJ or Band supply music for your event. If you plan on having a DJ or Band at the event in addition to the comedian, ask if they can supply their PA for the comedy show portion of the event. If not, you can always rent a professional style PA system from a local music store. Many hotels can supply a professional PA but they will charge you 3 to 4 times what you would pay from an outside DJ company or music store. Some comedians can supply or handle the sound system rental for you...just ask. Bottom line is "Don't skimp on the sound". (By the way...P.A. stands for Public Address)
You need to have bright white light. The room light should be dimmed to 20% during the show and the stage lights should be at 100%. There are many styles of lights out there and we don't have the space to explain them all so lets make this simple. The comedian’s body should be lit up so the person in the back row can see their face as clear as possible. The best lights are stage Fresnel or ellipsoidal lights that supply a bright wide white light that will light the comedian without blinding him. It’s always better to have 2 or more wide spots that will flood the stage but not hamper the comedian’s ability to see and interact with the crowd. Some venues will say they have lighting but most of the time the stage lights are not adequate or aimed correctly. Ask your comedy agent to assist with this if possible. You can do a show without stage lighting but are sacrificing a large part of the presentation and professionalism of the show.