--- title: "How to Pitch Corporate and Private Comedy Gigs | D.O.C." description: "A roadmap to pitching corporate and private events: events that fit, what buyers say about length and content, the notes to send and the offer to make." url: https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-pitch-corporate-comedy-gigs.html updated: 2026-11-10 --- The Career Atlas · Private & corporate · stop 3 of 5 # Pitch the right buyers: your roadmap Start the playbook → Your proof The short answer A corporate or private event books comedy for a purpose, so the question is whether this event suits your act. Choose the kinds of event that fit, ask about the audience, timing, content and sound before you quote, and send each buyer an offer made for their event, with a set length, what you need and a price. - **13** steps, each with its “done when” - **3** buyers, in their own words - **2** places to send it - **4** notes ready to send By D.O.C. Editorial · [The Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html) ## This roadmap, in five parts Your roadmap ## From here to close a written agreement Where you are, the tests for the next stop, and the steps between, in the order most comics take them. The steps are the Career Field Manual's; mark each one as you go, and the day goes in your passport. You’re here if… ### Comic booking direct: you, the organizer, and an offer - You have a tested clean set and a package you’d send to anyone. - You’ve played a private or community event, or you know people who run them. - You’re ready to approach event organizers and agencies, not only clubs and shows. - You aren’t sure yet what to charge, or what to ask before you name a price. You’re ready to move on when… ### …to [close a written agreement](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-comedy-gig-contract.html) These are the tests the next stop’s buyers set in their own published rules. Tick each one when it’s true for you. You have an agreement ready to send the day someone says yes: the Ivy League of Comedy says it usually gets a contract out within 24 hours. [Ivy League of Comedy FAQ ↗](https://www.ivystandup.com/corporate-comedy-faq-for-event-planners) You know your deposit and balance terms: the Ivy League of Comedy’s are half on booking and the balance at the event. [Ivy League of Comedy FAQ ↗](https://www.ivystandup.com/corporate-comedy-faq-for-event-planners) You have a short tech rider in two parts, as the Ivy League of Comedy keeps one: what you must have, and what would be nice to have. [Ivy League of Comedy FAQ ↗](https://www.ivystandup.com/corporate-comedy-faq-for-event-planners) An event’s organizer has said yes to your offer. 0 of 4 true ### The playbook 13 steps in 4 parts, from the Career Field Manual. Each has its “done when”, a D.O.C. tool for it, and your status, note and target date; star up to twelve for your 90-day plan. #### Choose the events that suit you From the Career Field Manual: Explore specialty markets, Choose help when it solves a problem and Find and pitch the right rooms. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 132–142, 143–173, 290–313 and 143–196. 1. Explore specialty markets · specialty-04 #### Research three corporate or private-event buyer requirements Read what three event buyers or agencies publish on their own pages: how long, how clean, and what they promise their clients. **Done when** Requirements linked to first-party sources. Where to send it, on this page → [Corporate buyers →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-corporate-comedy-gigs.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 2. Choose help when it solves a problem · team-01 #### Identify the people who already influence your bookings Corporate work can come from the company, a planner, an agency or a speakers bureau; know who owns the relationship before you write. **Done when** A map of buyer, host, producer and promoter roles. [Your Team: buyers, agents and promoters →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-agents.html#roles) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 3. Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-01 #### Find ten rooms appropriate to your actual set length **Done when** Ten candidates and their official sources. [Private events: qualify the event →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-private-event-comedy.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Make the offer for that event From the Career Field Manual: Find and pitch the right rooms and Explore specialty markets. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 143–196, 132–142 and 143–173. 4. Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-07 #### Ask about the slot, audience, pay and recording rules Ask about the audience, timing, content and sound before you quote: a birthday in a living room and an association gala are different jobs. **Done when** A specific description of the opportunity. The questions to ask → **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 5. Explore specialty markets · specialty-07 #### Prepare a market-specific pitch instead of a generic one Name the event, say why your act suits that audience, and offer the length they need, not the set you’d like to do. **Done when** A pitch adapted for that buyer’s audience. The note to an event’s organizer → **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 6. Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-04 #### Tailor your clip and message to each buyer **Done when** Three concise, different pitches. The note to an agency → [Draft the booking message →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/how-to-start-stand-up-comedy.html#tool-booking) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Track it, and follow up From the Career Field Manual: Find and pitch the right rooms. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 143–196. 7. Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-05 #### Create a submission tracker with dates and outcomes **Done when** A list showing sent, replied, follow-up, declined. [Your booking desk →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#desk) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 8. Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-06 #### Set follow-up reminders that respect buyer instructions **Done when** Follow-up dates, not repeated random nudges. [Follow-up dates on your booking desk →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#desk) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 9. Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-09 #### Log every accepted or declined offer and why **Done when** A decision trail you can learn from. [Your booking desk →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#desk) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 10. Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-10 #### Never list an unconfirmed offer as a booked date **Done when** Your calendar includes confirmed dates only. [Your dates on your own site →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/tour-dates-widget.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Price it so it pays From the Career Field Manual: Get paid. Keep records. and Choose help when it solves a problem. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 234–289 and 290–313. 11. Get paid. Keep records. · money-02 #### Verify whether lodging and travel are included **Done when** Exact terms rather than assumptions. [Get Paid: the deal →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/get-paid.html#deal) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 12. Get paid. Keep records. · money-04 #### Calculate every gig’s expected net before accepting Price the event after the questions, with the travel, the time and any second set counted. **Done when** Fee minus realistic expenses, before taxes. [The Math of a Gig →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-road-maps.html#math-of-a-gig) The quote → **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 13. Choose help when it solves a problem · team-07 #### Avoid pay-to-play, bogus showcases and fake representatives Check any request for a fee to be listed, showcased or represented before you pay it. **Done when** Documented checks before paying any fee. [Is this real? Check an offer →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/pay-to-play-comedy.html#check) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date ### What speeds this up - **Start with groups you know** Associations, clubs and charities you belong to need entertainment too. [Private events →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-private-event-comedy.html) - **Work with an agency** Agencies sell to planners you can’t reach yourself. [Your Team: who does what →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-agents.html#roles) - **Offer to emcee** Many events need a host as well as a set. [The host’s job →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-comedy-host.html) - **Dress for the event** Look like part of the evening the client planned. [What to wear on stage →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-what-comedians-wear-on-stage.html) - **Know the stage you’ll get** Banquet risers and dance floors aren’t club stages. [Stages beyond the clubs →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-comedy-venues-beyond-clubs.html) - **Book other dates on the trip** One event can anchor a run of shows nearby. [The Tour Planner →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-tour-planner.html) Each week ## Your weekly rhythm here Habits, not a timetable: the atlas has no stopwatch. Keep these going, and the proof for this stop builds up week by week. - **List three events** Add three events that suit your act to your lead list: a fundraiser, an association dinner, a company party. - **Find who books** For each, find the person who books the entertainment, from the organization’s own page. - **Send one offer** Send one courteous, specific note to the person who books, made for that event. - **Follow up once** Follow up on one note sent earlier, on the date you set, and log the answer. - **Ask before you quote** When someone answers, ask your questions first, and quote after. - **Keep the act sharp** Keep doing your clean set in public rooms, so the act you sell is the act you do. What buyers check ## In their own words Each buyer's published rule, quoted from its own page, checked on 10 November 2026. They differ, so send each one what its page asks for, and read the page again before you send. A clean-comedy producer’s terms for event clients ### Ivy League of Comedy FAQ For a corporate show, usually one comic, it recommends 20–30 minutes, after dinner; and it expects a corporate comic to be clean and to know corporate audiences. - For a corporate show, which is usually one comedian, we recommend 20-30 minutes. - After dinner is best. - A corporate comedian should be clean but also have experience with corporate audiences and corporate norms and practices. [Ivy League of Comedy FAQ’s page ↗](https://www.ivystandup.com/corporate-comedy-faq-for-event-planners) · checked 10 November 2026 An event producer’s page for fundraiser clients ### Wild Hair Entertainment, fundraisers Comedy shows for fundraisers, with performers chosen to suit the audience, for nonprofits, professional associations, schools and booster groups, civic groups, fire halls and rescue squads. - Audience-appropriate performer selection - Professional associations - Schools, PTAs, and booster groups [Wild Hair Entertainment, fundraisers’s page ↗](https://wildhairentertainment.com/fundraisers.php) · checked 10 November 2026 An event agency’s comedy page ### Metropolis Management Comedy for corporate events, colleges, fundraisers, conferences and private events. Many of its clients ask for clean material, and the comedy is adjusted to the audience and the event. - Comedy programming for corporate events, colleges, fundraisers, conferences, and private events. - Many clients request clean material for professional and mixed-audience settings. - Comedy is adjusted to audience type, event environment, and program goals [Metropolis Management’s page ↗](https://www.metropolismanagement.com/act-type-pages/comedy) · checked 10 November 2026 ### Where to send it Places that publish how an event comic gets in, each checked on 10 November 2026. Save one to your booking desk to keep its status, a follow-up date and a note. [62 places in all, on the Career Atlas →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#ways) Published route New York area, and touring · Clean comedy · Email #### The Ivy League of Comedy and Liberty Comedy, spots for comics Paid spots on clean shows at venues public and private: email a link to at least ten minutes of unedited video (or a late-night TV set), a bio or list of credits, at least one high-resolution professional headshot and, if you have one, a reference from a comic it already works with. **Worth knowing.** Its Ivy League of Comedy shows book full-time working comics; its Liberty Comedy shows can book comics with less experience, for shorter sets. [Its page ↗](https://www.ivystandup.com/spots) Checked 10 November 2026 Published route Southeastern Virginia and beyond · Show / roster · Form #### Wild Hair Entertainment A form to join its list of comics asked for availability: your experience, a bio and a link to a 5–10 minute performance clip. **Worth knowing.** Being on an availability list isn’t an offer of work. [Its page ↗](https://wildhairentertainment.com/comedian/application.php) Checked 10 November 2026 The money here ### Ask, then quote None of the buyers on this page publishes what it pays a comic, so this page gives no figure. Ask the questions first, then quote a price for this event, and put it in writing. **Before you name a price** - How many people, and who they are to each other - When you go on, and what comes before and after - Your set length, and whether they want hosting too - The content rule, and any topics to leave alone - The microphone, the sound and the light - Travel and a room, if it’s out of town - Who signs the agreement, and who pays you Questions to ask before you quote · [Road Maps: the Math of a Gig, with your own numbers](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-road-maps.html#math-of-a-gig) · [Get Paid, Get Back: the deal in writing](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/get-paid.html#deal) · [The IRS on gig work ↗](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/manage-taxes-for-your-gig-work) Ready to copy ## The notes to send Fill in what you know once: it fills every note below and stays on this device. Anything left blank shows in [brackets], to fill in by hand. Your details Your name Your home town The event The organizer’s name Why you’re writing to them Your set length, in minutes The audiences it suits Your clip’s link Your SUCDb record or website Your references The dates you can do The event’s date Anything else included: hosting, an emcee spot Your fee What the fee covers: travel, a second set Your deposit and balance terms ### The note to an event’s organizer ``` Subject: Clean stand-up for [The event] Hi [The organizer's name], I'm [Your name], a clean stand-up comedian from [Your home town]. I'm writing because [Why you're writing to them]. I do a [Your set length, in minutes]-minute clean set for [The audiences it suits], and I can host or emcee as well. A clip: [Your clip's link] If comedy might suit [The event], I'd be glad to send a quote once I know a little about the audience and the evening. Thank you, [Your name] ``` ### The note to an agency that books events ``` Subject: Clean comedian submission: [Your name], [Your home town] Hi, I'm [Your name], a clean stand-up from [Your home town], submitting the way your page asks. Video, [Your set length, in minutes] minutes, unedited: [Your clip's link] Bio and credits, as they are: [Your SUCDb record or website] References: [Your references] I'm available [The dates you can do]. Thank you for looking, [Your name] ``` ### Questions to ask before you quote ``` 1. What's the event, and why are you adding comedy? 2. How many people, what ages, and do they know each other? 3. When would I go on, and what comes before and after? 4. How long would you like the set? Do you need a host or emcee as well? 5. What's the content rule? Any topics to leave alone? 6. Is there a hand-held microphone, someone on sound and light on the stage? Will the audience be seated? 7. Who signs the agreement, and who pays? 8. Is there a budget for the entertainment? ``` ### The quote ``` Subject: Your quote: [Your name] for [The event] Hi [The organizer's name], Thank you for the details. For [The event] on [The event's date]: a [Your set length, in minutes]-minute clean set. Also included: [Anything else included: hosting, an emcee spot]. The fee is [Your fee], which covers [What the fee covers: travel, a second set]. To hold the date: [Your deposit and balance terms]. What I need: a hand-held microphone, the audience seated, and light on the stage. If that works for you, I'll send a short agreement to sign. Best, [Your name] ``` Your proof ## Proof for your passport Tick each piece when you have it: the day goes in your passport with it. The passport keeps your whole career's record on this device, to download, print and review once a year. The evidence ### This stop is done when you have A lead list of events that suit your act, each with the person who books it Offers sent, each made for its event, with their dates in your tracker Answers to your questions before each quote A written quote with a set length, what you need and a price An organizer’s yes, in writing Your status ### Pitch the right buyers A link to your proof: a tape, a booking, a review Your private note **On your record** Nothing yet: your status changes and ticks appear here, each with its day. [Your whole passport: the timeline, your booking desk, your 90-day plan, the printable career record, the yearly review and the cloud copy →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#passport) Saved in this browser ## Next stops [Private & corporate · Protect the gig **Close a written agreement** Settle the deal before you travel or perform.](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-comedy-gig-contract.html) [Colleges & campuses · The marketplace **Reach the campus buyers** Spend on reaching a market only with a plan the evidence backs.](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-campus-showcases-and-college-agents.html) ## Go deeper - [How do corporate comedy gigs work?](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-corporate-comedy-gigs.html) The explainer, from the D.O.C. book - [How do comedians read the room?](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-read-the-room.html) A corporate lunch, a private event and a late club show are different jobs - [Chapter 8, Getting Booked](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html) In D.O.C.’s companion book, Stand-Up Comedy: From Writing to Touring ## Sources The buyers' rules are quoted from each buyer's own page, checked on 10 November 2026. A buyer can change its rules at any time, so read its page before you send anything. - [The Ivy League of Comedy, FAQ for event planners ↗](https://www.ivystandup.com/corporate-comedy-faq-for-event-planners) A clean-comedy producer’s terms for event clients. - [Wild Hair Entertainment, fundraiser comedy shows ↗](https://wildhairentertainment.com/fundraisers.php) An event producer’s page for fundraiser clients. - [Metropolis Management, comedy ↗](https://www.metropolismanagement.com/act-type-pages/comedy) An event agency’s comedy page. - [The Ivy League of Comedy and Liberty Comedy, spots for comics ↗](https://www.ivystandup.com/spots) Its published route, checked 10 November 2026. - [Wild Hair Entertainment ↗](https://wildhairentertainment.com/comedian/application.php) Its published route, checked 10 November 2026. - [The D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html) The playbook's book topics, matched to the book's contents on 10 November 2026. ## About this roadmap **By D.O.C. Editorial.** This is one stop of [the Stand-Up Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html): private & corporate, stop 3 of 5. It's a way to plan, not a promise of bookings: it gives no expected years, its only figures are the ones buyers and venues publish on their own pages, and the buyers' rules are theirs. For how corporate comedy is bought, read [How do corporate comedy gigs work?](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-corporate-comedy-gigs.html). Updated 10 November 2026 · [The Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html) · [Comic's Corner](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/tools-for-comedians.html) · [Privacy](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/privacy.html)