Stand Up Comedians: The #1 Thing You Need for a Private Party

     I learned very early in my career the importance of great sound on the comedy stage. Nearly every comedian recognizes the sweet sound of a good mic that will make jokes soar. Well-planned comedy clubs provide sound that makes the voice sing and the laughter comes back to the performer's ears like waves.

     Unfortunately, when you walk outside of the boundaries of the comedy club and into the realm of private parties that luxury fades quickly. Nothing is more exasperating to a comedian than bad sound. A comedian's voice is his instrument and the betrayal of a bad microphone will take away confidence as the voice is lost in crackles and electric screams. Rather than being lured into this bad scene by the private party paycheck, plan for it. Being prepared to fix acoustical problems is one of your most important jobs.

     It is a dilemma that is easily solved. Bring your own microphone and your own amplifier. They will pay for themselves a hundred times over. The great news is that a stand up comedian doesn't need the exotic equipment of the musician. A simple microphone on a long cord attached to a small amplifier does the trick for an average size private party - 50 to even 300 people. I also recommend a small stage light especially if you anticipate videotaping and posting to YouTube to increase your social media presence. Anticipating problems will increase your value as you easily problem-solve for any environment. With a bit of pre-planning, it is possible to make the private party a very fun and rewarding experience.

HumorousSpeakersBureau

Sally Edwards is the president of the Humorous Speakers Bureau and a professional corporate comedian.