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I just got a hit for a stand-up gig..and I don't know if I want to do it or not.

Event: Work outing
Audience size: 30 people
Rated: R
Place:...some dude's back yard deck.

You read that right. A guy is doing a yard party and wants a 30 minute stand-up set. So there would be two of us. I could probably pull 30 minutes out of my ass but the quality would be all over the place.

The thing is, it would take a very specific type of comedy. Because it's a back yard party I guarantee that the audience will be drunk and involved with the show. They will be commenting, talking during the set to the comedian and to each other, and will be very prone to getting up and moving around. I have a set that I think they'd like but I'd have to find another comedian who would be willing to walk through that fire.

But it takes a lot of trust to go into someone's back yard and trusting them to pay is also a concern. But I also think that if it was done right it could be amazingly fun. Bomb, though, and you don't have a bouncer to keep you safe.

Also, it's October 16 so weather and getting a set together could be issues.

What do you guys think?

Maybe for extra money. Gotta make it worth it. What is your without-hesitation-yes, price?

You're a braver man than me. Do it. Why the hell not?

Write up a contract or go get one and put CYA stuff in there.
Have them pay half up front, and the other when you show up. That way you can split if you need to.

I expect a full retelling of the tale afterwards though! Or periscope it!

Good luck!

BTW, do you have social network site(s) that you can ask the crowd to promote? That way you can get some word-of-mouth marketing.

I have contracts already, but the amount I would charge would not be worth the trouble to chase them down. (Of course I have contracts already. Dude, I'm a professional!)

I put in a bid for $300, which would give me $200 and a sub-contracted stand-up $100. If they go for it I'll have to locate a second guy. I have someone in mind who is funny as hell, but he's kind of a diva and may not do it based on the location alone.

I dunno, man... Hiring a stand-up comedian "for your backyard" sounds like a great way to get the main course to bring itself to the cannibal barbecue.

I'd better check and see if the guy hiring us would be....SHIA LEBEOUF!

Dave said:

I'd better check and see if the guy hiring us would be....SHIA LEBEOUF!

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Feel free to use the cannibal barbecue line in your set.

I've done a lot of "house gigs" on St. Patrick's Day. A lot of them suck, but occasionally they're really fun.

But doing a house gig as a band is a totally different animal than doing a house gig as a comedian. Just trying to imagine that setup as a participant feels awkward, much less as a performer. Just kind of a weird thing to have at your party.

As a band, we're background music and provide energy to the crowd in an unobtrusive way. Even as a band doing background music, we still got our fair share of "freebird!"s, drunk people wanting to play our instruments or sing, and that kind of thing. As a comedian, you pretty much need to have focus of the audience, and I just don't see that happening cleanly without a lot of heckling, distraction, and interruption.

I probably would give it a pass. But hell, I'm not a comedian, so I only have my own imagination to go on for how the situation would go. So, what the fuck do I know? It could turn out awesome.

$200 for 20 minutes is pretty rad in my book. My pocket book! But I'm also a greedy bastard that regularly signs up for research guinea pig gigs.

I suppose it's a cultural difference. I've known plenty of similar things. Whether it's a comedian or a magician or whatever, why wouldn't the audience jut politely sort-of stare in your direction, applaud politely, then continue their conversation afterwards?
I can imagine problems if it's too late at the party and everybody's already dead drunk, but otherwise, listening to/watching the entertainment provided is only polite and correct. Even a bad comedian in such a setting might get booed/heckled a bit but nothing more. can't really see why you wouldn't do it, unless you think they're a bunch of rude jackasses.

You should get half up front as a deposit to avoid any douchebaggery by your potential client.

The risk of you not getting paid is a concern, but my more pressing concern is for your safety in a private home doing this.

Always 1/2 up front and the other half before you go on.

Just do racist rape jokes and you'll be fine.

What if they're into it, though? That'd get uncomfortable.

Dave said:

Bomb, though, and you don't have a bouncer to keep you safe.

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Make sure your partner is big, tough, and carries a large piece of lumber at all times. Basically, this guy:



That way, you have your own bouncer and negotiation tactic if the dude decides to not pay.

And even if he's not funny, people will laugh out of fear.

Found out more about the gig. Their budget is about $100 so if I and another went it would be $50 each. Not exactly a windfall. And the audience would be a bunch of nurses and nursing staff. So no loud drunk GUYS.

This gives me pause because my set is all about "I...AM A MAN!!" and then getting the men in the audience to repeat it. It would have been perfect for a manly audience. Not so much a bunch of nurses.

Dave said:

Found out more about the gig. Their budget is about $100 so if I and another went it would be $50 each. Not exactly a windfall. And the audience would be a bunch of nurses and nursing staff. So no loud drunk GUYS.

This gives me pause because my set is all about "I...AM A MAN!!" and then getting the men in the audience to repeat it. It would have been perfect for a manly audience. Not so much a bunch of nurses.

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I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR works just fine, but I'm not sure you've got the equipment to pull it off.

(also, $50 for an evening isn't worth getting out of bed for IMO, but I'm prejudiced)

EEEEeeeeeyyeeeah no. If you're in a situation that's uncomfortable, and the crowd isn't what your material's geared toward, $50 ain'a gonna cut it.

Unless you're single and like to play doctor . . .


. . . yeah, I'll do this gig.

Not nearly enough $

I mean would that even cover your expenses?

I'm going to go and MC, taking a couple of guys along who will do the comedy. They are open-mic'ers so even making $50 for them is cool.

So if you're not doing the comedy, then are you the bodyguard?

I'm the guy responsible for the booking and owns the sound system being used. I'm guarding my brand, my tech, and my reputation.