How to host comedy
“In a challenging year for pubs, comedy is one way in which licensees can put a smile on their faces – as well as those of their customers.
It’s been proven time and time again that comedy can bring in extra customers to pubs, and spark the feel-good factor which will really drive up sales. The Publican is delighted to be linking up with Magners to promote and inspire pub comedy with the Magners Pub Comedy Awards, and we look forward to hearing the humour that the nation’s pub customers have to offer.”
Daniel Pearce
Managing Editor, The Publican
In order to help pubs run successful Pub comedy nights, we are pleased to offer the following hints and tips:
- Ensure that you involve the local community. This will be key to a successful comedy night. Appoint an ambassador within the pub to be in charge. This could be a member of staff or a customer with a keen interest in comedy who can actively recruit comedians from the local comedy circuit.
- Make sure you publicise the event well in advance. Make use of promotional posters and word of mouth. Also contact the local radio and press to help publicise the event as they are often very receptive.
- Ensure that your staff are well briefed about the event and that they speak to your customers to encourage attendance and participation.
- Ask people to email or write in with an application in advance to take part. Make sure they have prepared a script/act and that they have enough material for the duration of the act. Decide how long the sets are – they should be no longer than 3-5 minutes. Ideally you should be looking for a total of ten acts.
- Provide written details of any ‘house rules’ regarding content to all participants.
- Encourage all participants to bring along friends and family to drive footfall.
- Consider introducing a charity element to support a local cause. This can drive footfall and help promote your pub as a community focused enterprise.
- Make sure the audience can see the performers. It's best if they're on a slightly raised stage with a clear sight line for the audience
- A good PA is vital - make sure it comes with two microphones in case one fails and a technician. These can be hired from local suppliers.
- Make sure you switch off the house lights and anything that might disturb the show – jukeboxes/ games machines/etc. Encourage the audience to buy drinks before the show starts, as it can be disruptive during the acts.
- Always have a compere to host the evening introducing each act.
- If possible have an area of the pubs set aside for customers that do not want to take part in the comedy evening. This helps reduce unwanted background chat!
- Encourage the audience to actively take part in the judging process. Print out a list of all your acts asking the audience to score each one. Use this to determine the ultimate winner.
- Always have an interval in the middle of the show. This allows customers the opportunity to get a drink.
- Have a second interval between the end of the show and announcement of the results as this will keep your customers there for longer.
- If possible invest in a semi professional or professional comedian to perform a 20 minute headline act at the end of the show.
Download a score sheet here to enable the audience to judge each act.
Fancy getting an insight into how a successful comedy night works? Thanks to Jongleurs, you can take advantage of a 241 at any Jongleurs comedy club. To book log onto www.jongleurs.com or call 0844 844 004 quoting MPCA241. Terms and conditions apply.