I've recently jumped into doing some corporate gigs. They can be fun but they can also be daunting. Let's face it, it's a little weird to do comedy in the middle of the afternoon for people wearing suits and ties. Meanwhile, I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
This past December, I got to do 2 Christmas party gigs. One was really fun, the other was for a room full of 100 people at a fancy restaurant and I'm not sure it went over so well. But what can ya do?
Corporate gigs are a little different because there is definitely some professionalism to it. I try to be as professional as possible. That means talking to people on the phone, showing up on time, writing my material to their preferences like PG or PG-13. It's a lot of work, but it's also rewarding.
Corporate gigs have really helped me grow as a comedian. They also helped me to learn some stuff about business. If you are confident in your abilities and can offer a good service, then I think you can thrive in the corporate world. It also helps to be nice, say thank you and send a follow up email.
After all, these people are taking a pretty big risk. Let's say they book the wrong comedian and they show up and drop a bunch of F bombs and talk about sex for 30 minutes at a retirement home. That's not going to reflect well on them or you.
I guess what I'm saying is, you have to be able to adapt. I've been doing this almost 9 years and I just now feel confident to put myself out there to the "professional" world.
I think most people could try it sooner, but I've always been a late bloomer.
Also, give Gigsalad or some other booking website a try. It's good exposure and if you can get a gig and a good review, you might be able to expand. Just keep at it. These times are tough, and you really have to find your own way.
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