How to Book Road Gigs as a Comedian

Comedians can be successful if they understand how to book road gigs

Booking road gigs can be very challenging for a comedian without a manager. Funny jokes and great preparation will be meaningless if you do not know how to book a gig. As a comedian, you must not only be a great performer, but you also should be excellent at business. A good business mind will help comedians continue booking shows on the road and have a successful career.

Things You'll Need

• Website
• Recorder
• Calendar

Instructions

1. Record your act. As a comedian, it is important that you have samples of your work that you can send to people that can book you. Record your set and have friends in the back ground as an audience. Use either a camera or voice recorder. Make sure your jokes are original and humorous to appeal to the person you are submitting to.

2. Research different comedy clubs, events and cities where you want to perform. Be open minded to performing at places that are not comedy clubs. Make sure you understand what type of audience comes to the club or event. You want to make sure the audience will be entertained by your jokes and connect with you. After you find where you want to perform, pitch yourself to the club managers or event organizers.

3. Be organized. As you contact places to perform, write any information that you need, such as dates of the performances, how long you will be performing and what type of audience you will be performing for. Keep a calendar that provides all the dates, times and places you will be performing.

4. Network. Everywhere you go, keep your ear open to hearing about events that may help you with your career and be social at these events. Networking will help you come in contact with people that can help you get road gigs. People are more likely to hire people that they know or they are referred to.

5. Create a website that markets you. It should provide your background, a visual of your act and contact information. The Internet is a quick and a cheap tool to promote
   you to a large range of people. Also, provide social media links to your website. Create a blog, Facebook and Twitter pages. Social media will help your website be interactive and increase awareness of you as a comedian to the public. Most importantly, make sure your contact information is very simple and correct so people will not have trouble reaching you for gig.

References

• How to Book a Comedian’s Gigs; October 20th, 2007