Where to put comedy in your event agenda
The best time slot for a comedian at a corporate event, holiday party or banquet, and the timing mistakes that sink a great show.
You can book a hilarious comedian and still have a flat show if the slot is wrong. Where the comedy sits in your program matters almost as much as who you book. Here’s what works, and what to avoid.
The best slot: right after dinner is cleared
For banquets, holiday parties and award dinners, the sweet spot is after the main course, once plates are cleared and before dessert or the awards drag on. People are fed, relaxed and still have energy. Ask your caterer to clear tables before the show and hold dessert service until it’s over.
- Avoid performing during the meal. Clattering plates and servers walking in front of the stage break the room’s focus.
- Avoid the very end of the night. By the last hour people are tired, the bar has been open a while and guests start drifting out.
Conferences and meetings
At a conference, comedy works best as an energy reset: opening a general session, kicking off the afternoon after lunch, or closing day one before the reception. A 20 to 30 minute set after a run of presentations wakes the room up for what comes next.
Keep speeches short before the show
Long thank-yous and announcements right before the comedian drain the room. If you have business to cover, do the essential parts before dinner, keep the introduction to a minute, and save anything else for after the show.
How long should the set be?
Most corporate and private events are best with 30 to 45 minutes of comedy. Shorter sets suit tight programs or a host who’s also running the event; a full headline show runs 45 to 60 minutes. If the comedian is also hosting or emceeing, plan their time across the whole program. See our hosts and emcees.
Give the comedian a run of show
Share the timeline, who introduces the comedian, and anything happening right before and after the set. When you book through ComedyBookers, we put the run of show together with you and pass it to the comedian and your AV team, so everyone knows the cue.
Planning an event now? Tell us about it and we’ll help you pick the right comedian and the right moment for the show.
