Job Description for a Comedian

A comedian brings laughter and fun to the lives of his or her "customers." If you are considering this freelance profession, be sure that you fully understand what the job entails.

Qualifications

A comedian must have a natural ability to make people laugh. He or she must be witty and be able to think on their feet.

Public Speaking

In addition to humor, a comedian must also have superior public speaking skills since they will be performing in front of audiences for between five minutes to more than an hour at a time.

Training

A comedian must learn the craft by studying other comics, and attending open-mic nights and other amateur performance opportunities. Training at an acting or arts school is also recommended.

Hours

A comedian's hours are very irregular. They may be required to perform for a couple of hours on the weekend with little or no work during the week, depending on the venue. In between gigs, they must be persistent in looking for new work, negotiating with club owners and booking performance dates. Most professional comedians are self-employed individuals.

Pay

An amateur comedian will commonly work for free because their payment at this level is in exposure. Professional comedians can make up to $200 to $250 per performance, or more if they have a large mainstream following.

References

• Comedian Job Description
• Dream Job: Comedian
• How Much Money Does A Comedian Make?

Resources

• Tips for Standup Comedians
• Comic Insights: The Art of Stand-up Comedy; Franklyn Ajaye; 2002