Three types of booking get asked about constantly and rarely get a straight answer, because none of them work like a standard corporate quote. A wedding is a one-off with a fixed date you cannot move. A charity night usually has a real budget ceiling and a good reason for asking. A sports club dinner runs on its own circuit with its own regulars. Here is what actually moves the price on each.
Weddings
A wedding comedian's fee is driven less by fame and more by three practical things: the day of the week, whether you want a comedian only or a comedian who will also compere the evening, and how far they need to travel. A Saturday in wedding season with full hosting duties, from welcoming guests through to introducing the speeches, costs more than a shorter slot on a quieter date. If you only need twenty minutes of stand-up between the meal and the first dance, say so - it is a different job to running the whole evening, and it is priced as one.
Sports club and sportsman's dinners
Sports club and sportsman's dinners are a recognised booking circuit in their own right, distinct from a general corporate function. Bill Woolland, for example, is a regular across cricket clubs, golf clubs and boardroom dinners, and Sean Percival is equally at home from rugby club dinners to formal awards nights. Pricing follows the same logic as any other after-dinner booking: the date, the running order, and whether the act is comparing the evening as well as performing. Clubs who book annually often build a relationship with a small pool of acts who already understand the room.
Charity nights on a tight budget
There is no special discount code for charity bookings, but there is a genuinely better way to book one. Tell us it's a charity fundraiser and what you actually have to spend, right from the first enquiry, rather than asking for "a quote" and hoping it fits. That lets us put forward acts who are a real match for the budget, instead of defaulting to the first name on the roster and hoping you can stretch to it. The fastest way to overspend on any booking, charity or otherwise, is to ask for a number before you've said what you actually have.
For the general mechanics of what sits inside any comedian's fee, day of the week, travel, running time, see our guide to how much a comedian costs and what moves the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a comedian for a wedding?
It depends on the day of the week, whether you also want the comedian to compere the evening, and how far they need to travel. A Saturday booking with hosting duties costs more than a short set on a quieter date. Tell us your date, venue and whether you need a host as well as a comedian, and we will give you a real number, not a guess.
Is a comedian for a charity fundraiser cheaper than a corporate booking?
Not automatically, but being upfront about your budget and that it's a charity event from the first enquiry lets us match you to an act who genuinely fits both, rather than defaulting to the first name on the list. The fastest way to overspend is to ask for a quote without saying what you actually have to spend.
What does a sportsman's dinner speaker or comedian typically cost?
Sports club and sportsman's dinners run on their own circuit with their own regulars, and pricing follows the same logic as any other after-dinner booking: the date, the running order and whether the act is also compering the evening. Clubs booking annually often get to know a small pool of acts who understand the room.
How do I get the best comedian for my budget?
Tell us your real number and your date first, before you fall in love with a specific name. We would rather match you to an act who is a genuinely great fit for your budget than have you stretch for someone who isn't the right room for the money.
Ready to talk numbers? Tell us about your event and we will give you a straight answer.
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