Can anything be easier than making people laugh for a living? It would seem that becoming a comedian would be a simple way to start raking in the money. Though the hard truth is that it isn’t as simple as telling jokes. Joke-telling and putting together an act of doing so is not always sufficient for succeeding in comedy. Keep reading till the end to discover more about How to Make Money as a Comedian.
While comedy can be a source of income, it is also an art form. If you are funny and you want to give making money as a comedian a shot, this guide should help you get started. In this post, we will provide some great ideas about how to start on your trek as a comedian, including tips about how you can make it big in the business of comedy.
How to Make Money as a Comedian
1. Start Performing Stand-Up At Comedy Clubs
Any comedian knows that the first step to getting into a comedy career is to start performing stand-up on the local club scene. At clubs, you can start testing what you believe is the best material you have and put together your act. There won’t be much attention at first, but with persistence, you will begin to get the attention of various agencies and producers.
If you prove to have a knack for live stand-up comedy, bookers from comedy clubs are going to start approaching you about performing at the clubs on the weekends. Once that gets rolling, you can grow your act. Most top comedians today make hundreds of thousands or in some cases, millions of dollars with their act. If you can get the audience to come along for a fun and funny ride with you, your popularity will grow organically, making you lots of money as a stand-up comedian.
2. Perform At College Comedy Shows
There was a time that comedy was considered an underground art form, but that is no longer the case. Colleges are rife with demand for funny material and are happy to organize students into comedy events, being willing to pay good money to do so. Especially appealing is that anyone can do a college show. It’s just a matter of finding the right school venue to perform at. Many times comedians who land gigs on college campuses want accompanying acts. You can find them on comedy store message boards or through Craigslist casting call listings.
So how much can you earn? Many schools offer anywhere from $200 to $1,000 for a set that lasts approximately an hour. The one important tip is to know your audience, so make sure that the style of comedy you engage in is appropriate at the schools to which you are looking to get gigs.
3. Social Media Comedy Accounts
Much like people in real life, millions of social media followers online love a good laugh. They are happy to go to big platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube in order to see jokes and funny anecdotes from established comedians. If you have an account with short, funny, meaningful content, you can attract quite a few viewers.
If people like your content, they are even likelier to click on the ads your account promotes, and help you draw in some ad revenue. Every platform provides different methods by which a user can profit from social media advertising. Humor, being generally popular in its appeal, lifts people’s spirits, so many are drawn to it, especially through social media.
To get to a place where you can make good money through social media, you will need to establish a presence on multiple social networks, specifically the bigger ones. You will need to promote your account and yourself and engage with followers as you would with audience members on a stage. Most importantly, present content that will be different and unique, at least to some degree, from what the other users putting out comedy content is doing, thereby distinguishing yourself from the others.
4. Host A Humor Or Comedy Blog
An excellent idea resource for any comedian who wants to make money is a blog. Through a blog, you can express your opinions, comment on current events, share updates, provide commentary on recent life experiences, and so on. This makes you relatable and you can tie your name to expressing all of those things in a comedically entertaining way to attract readers.
To start a blog you need a domain name that you can acquire from Namecheap, hosting that can be provided by Hostgator, an email collection tool from AWeber, and a blog theme from Elegantthemes. So how do you use a blog to make money as a comedian? Here are a few methods:
- Product Sales: Your blog gives you a platform through which to sell physical and digital products or you can use Thinkific to do so in few minutes. You need to set up an eCommerce store and you can link to them through your blog.
- Affiliate Marketing: One of the most prominent ways that comedians make money is by referring visitors to other people’s products. As an assist in making the sale, the blogger acts as an affiliate and earns a portion of the revenue for the product.
- Ad Networks: Since the blog is a comedy-themed one, you can make money from ad networks. These serve as advertiser intermediaries, and all you need to do is to display them on your blog to get paid for providing another medium for people that the advertisers may not always be able to reach.
5. Help Tech Speakers Spice Up Their Presentations
There are many people whose jobs or activities require them to create a slideshow, generally through PowerPoint. However, since the material they are conveying is usually technical in nature, the presentations tend to be dry and boring. As a comedian, you can offer to “punch” them up a bit with some good comedic writing.
To find clients that might be interested in this type of service, you can compile a listing of tech companies in your area and reach out to them to see if they would be interested in your brand of service. While you are unlikely to land an immediate ton of work of this nature, if you are good at what you do, and they are interested, you can charge respectable prices for the service. Presenters are well aware that the more engaging the presentations are, the better they are perceived by listeners, so if they are generally open to engaging their audience, they make take you up on your offer.
6. Comedy Show Hosting
You can make very good money as a comedy show host. The best part is there are many opportunities to do so. You can work with existing comedy clubs or bars that host comedians. You can even organize, your own comedy show if you can find a suitable location willing to host you. This isn’t intended to be some major gala event, but more about engaging your community through something like monthly shows for everyone to have a good time together.
If you are not able to find a community location, you can speak to local bar owners to see if they have interested in partnering to host this semi-regular event with you. The goal is to sell tickets, but just as important, it is to bring people together and build a community. If you become a host for a comedy show, you can even try out your own material as new customers are present at the venue, helping to build your own following as you grow your comedic career.
7. Get Exposure Through Movies Or TV Shows
In order to reach more people with your comedy, you need exposure to more people, and one of the most direct ways to do so is to put yourself in front of a camera as a TV or movie actor. Alternatively, you can create content for television shows about comedy. Once you secure such a role or appearance, any subsequent viewership of the film tends to earn residual income, which is the best kind because you get paid over and over for it.
As your comedic resume grows, you can enhance it by noting your status as having starred or been in a particular movie or show, drawing you more credibility as a comedian in the business. You may not know this, but some legendary comedians and actors got their start as extras in shows, including Eddie Murphy and Christopher Guest. As a background player, you can hone your comedic skills, and get additional exposure from your performance.
These days, such opportunities are easier than ever with how prolific relative TV, web series and other types of mediums are. Once you have appeared in a number of shows, you can have a list of materials to work from in promoting your comedy appearances.
8. Become An Improv Class Teacher
As a good comedian or actor, you can make very good money teaching improv classes on the side at a nearby college or school. Teaching people the psychology of being funny is hard, but if it is something that comes naturally to you, you should leverage that skill. Improv is a form of short improvisational theater that is all about coming up with funny material as you go along with suggestions from the audience or partnering performers.
This is a market that is far too unknown, even to comedians who aren’t aware that they can make good money this way. Even students can engage in this if they can clearly communicate their skills. A great time to teach these is during summer comedy workshops. Perhaps the money you earn isn’t exuberant, but it can help to earn some extra cash.
what about creating an online course as a digital format and sell it to your audience, yes you can do that too with the help of Payhip.
9. Writing And Selling Jokes
As a comedian, you are always in search of new jokes and material, and so are other comedians. If you have jokes you believe to be funny, why not help out your fellow comedians and make some money at the same time by selling your jokes?
You might come across material for new jokes from overhearing things in people’s conversations, on the radio, on podcasts, or on TV. With some creative editing, you can mold those into a joke, or multiple variants of the same jokes. If you suspect you can manipulate something into a funny joke, but don’t know how to yet off the top of your head, just jot some topics on a notecard, and compose them into a funny bit. Then, on open mic nights, offer these jokes or stories for sale for $15 to $30. If you do well, certain magazines and newspapers will offer to pay you for articles with your humor included.
You can sell your jokes on Fiverr as a gig.
10. Corporate Event Act Development
Club appearances are not the only way to perform in front of people as a comedian. A great source of income for comedians is to perform at parties, private functions, and corporate events. Not only do you tend to get paid handsomely for these gigs, but they are also a great way to raise your namesake and marketability for future work.
Corporate events can really light up the crowd if you take shots at the CEO or top executives. Perhaps these are things that many in the company feel, but could never say for fear of being let go. You have no such concerns, so in your show, you could get the audience on your side quickly by delighting them with some jokes at their corporate leaders’ expense without consequence to you.
Ironically, these performances may remind employees why they enjoy working at their place of employment, and they will remember these events making them eager to stay with the employer and bolster their productivity.
11. Sell tickets to live comedy shows or tours:
As a comedian, you can tour the country or the world performing stand-up comedy or other types of comedy shows. You can sell tickets to these shows through your own website or through ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster or Eventbrite.
12. Write and sell comedy scripts or treatments:
If you’re a talented comedy writer, you can write scripts or treatments for TV shows, movies, or web series, and sell them to production companies or studios. You can also write comedy sketches or monologues for other comedians to use in their shows.
13. Teach comedy workshops or classes:
If you have expertise in a particular area of comedy, such as stand-up, improv, or sketch writing, you can teach classes or workshops to aspiring comedians. You can teach these classes in person or online, and charge a fee for your services.
14. Create and sell comedy merchandise:
Many comedians create and sell merchandise featuring their comedy brand or logo, such as t-shirts, hats, or stickers. You can sell these items through your own website or on platforms like Etsy (Open an Etsy shop and list your first 40 items free) or Teespring.
15. Sell comedy recordings or videos:
If you have recordings of your stand-up comedy shows or other comedy performances, you can sell these as digital downloads or physical copies. You can also create and sell comedy videos, such as sketch shows or series, and distribute them through platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.
16. Offer comedy consulting or coaching services:
As an experienced comedian, you may be able to offer consulting or coaching services to aspiring comedians or individuals looking to improve their public speaking skills. You can offer these services in person or online, and charge a fee for your time and expertise.
17. Create and sell comedy courses or ebooks:
If you have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the comedy industry, you can create and sell courses or ebooks teaching others about comedy writing, performance techniques, or marketing strategies. You can sell these products on your own website or through platforms like Udemy or Skillshare.
18. Collaborate with other comedians:
One way to increase your exposure and reach as a comedian is to collaborate with other comedians on projects such as sketch shows, podcasts, or live comedy tours. You can share the profits from these collaborations with your partners.
19. Host comedy festivals or events:
As a comedian, you can create your own comedy festivals or events and charge admission or sell tickets to attendees. You can also perform at existing comedy festivals or events and negotiate a fee for your performance.
20. Write and perform comedy for corporate events or private parties:
Another way to make money as a comedian is to write and perform comedy sketches or stand-up sets for corporate events or private parties. You can charge a fee for your services and customize your material to fit the theme or tone of the event.
21. Create a Patreon page:
Patreon is a platform that allows fans to financially support artists and creators on a recurring basis. As a comedian, you can create a Patreon page and offer exclusive content, such as access to live streams or early releases of your material, to your supporters.
22. Write and sell jokes or punchlines:
If you’re a talented joke writer, you can sell your jokes or punchlines to other comedians or comedy writers. You can also create joke sets or themes and sell them as a package.
23. Write and sell comedy articles or essays:
If you have a knack for writing, you can write and sell comedy articles or essays to magazines, websites, or publishers. You can also create a comedy blog or website and monetize it through advertising or by selling digital products such as ebooks or courses.
24. Monetize your social media presence:
If you have a large following on social media, you can monetize your presence by working with brands as a social media influencer or by promoting your own products or services. You can also use your social media platforms to promote your live shows or other comedy projects and drive ticket sales.
25. Write and pitch comedy scripts or ideas to television networks or streaming platforms:
If you have ideas for comedy TV shows, movies, or web series, you can write scripts or treatments and pitch them to networks or streaming platforms. You can also work with a literary agent or manager to help you get your ideas in front of the right people.
26. Perform comedy at schools or universities:
Another way to make money as a comedian is to perform at schools or universities. You can charge a fee for your services and customize your material to fit the age and interests of your audience.
27. Sell comedy-themed products or services:
If you have a unique or humorous perspective on a particular topic, you can create and sell comedy-themed products or services related to that topic. For example, you might create a line of humorous greeting cards or a comedy-themed travel agency.
28. Create a comedy app or game:
If you have a background in programming or app development, you can create a comedy app or game and sell it through the App Store or Google Play. You can also work with a developer to bring your ideas to life.
29. Sell comedy-themed art or crafts:
If you have a talent for art or crafting, you can create and sell comedy-themed art or crafts, such as prints, paintings, or handmade toys. You can sell these items through your own website or on platforms like Etsy or Redbubble.
30. Write and sell comedy-themed ebooks or audiobooks:
If you have a talent for writing, you can create and sell comedy-themed ebooks or audiobooks through platforms like Amazon Kindle or Audible. You can also work with a publisher to release your work in print form.
Licensing your material:
If you have a library of comedy material, such as jokes, sketches, or videos, you can license this material to other comedians or media companies for a fee. This can be a good source of passive income, as you can continue to earn money from your material even if you’re not actively performing or writing.
How Much Can You Earn As A Comedian?
A typical stand-up comedian earns about $30 to $45 per show at a typical club gig, but that really depends on their choice of gigs to pursue. Professional comedians earn significantly more, scoring anywhere from $15,000 to $120,000 worth of money for their gigs per year. If you sell out a venue like the likes of Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, and Dave Chapelle can, you can clear over half a million dollars.
Conclusion:
there are many ways for comedians to make money, including performing stand-up comedy, writing and selling comedy material, teaching comedy workshops, creating and selling comedy merchandise, and collaborating with other comedians.
By using these strategies and exploring other creative opportunities, comedians can build successful careers and make a living doing what they love. If you’re interested in learning about other ways to make money, be sure to check out “How To Make Money As A Mechanic (TOP 30 Profitable Ideas)“.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How should I learn stand-up comedy?
The best way to learn comedy, much like anything else, is to engage in it. The act of performing is the best learning any comedian can have, as they get to perform on a stage at lots of different venues for different crowds as they hone their craft at the skill of stand-up.
Can comedy be a full-time job?
Unlike most other jobs that have a set 40-hour five-day work week, comedians do not work set hours. Comedy shows do not happen daily, so it is unlikely that a comedian, especially in the early throws of his or her career can make comedy their only job.
Typically comedians do different kinds of work to supplement whatever income they manage to get from performing gigs. Working as a comedian requires the establishment of multiple revenue streams, which may include regular live performances, but also other kinds of work including editing and writing.
I’m Thomas, founder of Genie Dollars, a platform sharing proven strategies for making money online. With experience in affiliate marketing, print-on-demand, and freelance writing, I aim to inspire and guide others toward financial freedom through online entrepreneurship.
