Hire a Comedian

(or a complete Comedy Show)

Workafrolics Comedy and The Comedy Box are experts in booking and running stand-up comedy events and have been promoting comedy in the Bristol area since 1992. Now we are in a position where we can pass on our expertise to events organisers and venues.

If you wish to organise your own comedy show or regular comedy club then we can tailor make an evening to your own requirements, in consideration of your budget, the comedians and the audience.

WE ARE INDEPENDENT

Workafrolics Comedy is an independent comedy promotions business and booking agency, not a management agency. This means we do not represent a particular roster of artistes, therefore we will only book comics who we know will fit your requirements. We will act as your booker and we will approach the artistes direct or their agents. And as we are promoters too we deal with all of the big agents. The entire comedy circuit is at our/your disposal.

YOUR EVENT

Before you contact us you should consider a few very important things first:

• Do you have a good quality PA sound system for a sold out show?
• Will there be a stage and lighting?
• Will the audience be seated?
• Who will be running the show on the night?
• Is the event self-contained or closed? (no external distractions i.e. noise, public wandering through etc)

While stand-up comedy is mostly informal in nature it is always best to regard shows as theatrical events rather than similar to live music or street performance. Comedians like to be listened to and like to be heard and seen and not have to compete with fruit machines, juke boxes, big screen football or the wedding party in the next room.

SHOW FORMATS

There are various formats for a complete comedy show:

• Four acts and a compere (4 x 20 minute acts; plus host)
• Three acts and a compere (1 x 30 min headliner; 2 x 20 mins supports; plus host)
• Headliner, support and a compere (1 x 40/45 min headliner; 1 x 30 min support; plus host)
• Headliner, two supports and a compere (1 x 40 min headliner; 2 x 20 min supports; plus host)
• Headliner and a support (1 x 60/70 min headliner; 1 x 25/30 min support)
• Double headliner (2 x 45/50 min acts)

There are also other types of formats featuring new act or 'open' spots, 10 minute spots etc. Each of the above formats are usually structured around a two hour show including one interval. Some formats can embrace two intervals if necessary.

If you are planning a public comedy event then choosing a night of the week from Sunday to Wednesday means you won't need as much lead time for booking acts as you would for a Thursday to Saturday. Peak nights such as these usually require several months notice to book simply because of the fierce competition for acts by circuit venues.  Off-peak nights are easier to book, especially if it's top quality you are after with a short lead time.

Call Steve Lount on 0117 973 7661 if you wish to book a comedian or a complete comedy show for your event. Email steve@thecomedybox.co.uk.

CORPORATE COMEDY

You may want to host an event at our venue at the Hen & Chicken in Bristol. While most of our public shows at the Hen & Chicken take place on Fridays and Saturdays, this leaves the rest of the week available to host private or corporate shows.

The upstairs venue at the Hen & Chicken, situated in the south Bristol suburb of Southville, is perfect for stand-up comedy. It is a fully table-seated room holding up to 140 people. The stage is perfectly visible from all points in the room and with four PA speakers suspended from the ceiling it has the best sound system for performances dedicated to the spoken word. We also have facilities for multi-media presentations and live music.

If you are interested in putting together a comedy show for your organisation, company, or workplace, we can provide you with a professional service to help you realise your idea. We have access to all of the stand-up comics currently working in the UK, and we can organise the show as if it were a public event but it will be exclusively for you. Services including booking the acts, front-of-house operation, show management, ushering and, in conjunction with the Hen & Chicken management, bar operation and catering.

Contact us via email or telephone and we will get back to you.

Private and corporate enquiries: Steve Lount (0117) 973 7661 or via email: steve@thecomedybox.co.uk