7 Essentials Skills Comedians Need Before You Hire Them

Sometimes a comedian will bring the crowd to their knees, and other times they could be a total flop. While the onus is typically on the comedian to ensure they do a good job, it’s also up to you as the person who has hired them. While not everyone has the same sense of humour, there are some key skills that all comedians need to have to do a good job.  

Comedic timing

Ever notice how one person can tell a joke, and it’s much funnier than when you heard it from another person. With comedy, timing is almost everything. Good comedy isn’t just about cracking a few good jokes. There’s a lot more skill to it than that. 

Professional comedians know how to time their jokes well. They are quick, witty, and have fine-tuned their skills to ensure they execute the right joke at the right time. As public speakers, they know how to keep their audience engaged.

Storytelling skills

Beyond comedic timing, comedians also need to have good storytelling skills. Ever listen to someone tell a joke and you didn’t get it because they lost you half-way through the story? This generally happens when someone hasn’t honed their storytelling skills. So, before you hire a comedian, you need to know that they can keep an audience engaged through good storytelling.

Storytelling is at the heart of public speaking. It’s been used for thousands of years to help people communicate effectively. Think about it, stories captivate audiences, there’s always the desire to know what’s next. For comedians, storytelling is perhaps the most effective way to build a rapport with their audience; it’s the foundation from which their comedy builds. So, when looking for a comedian, consider how good they are at telling stories that captivate you!

Using humour effectively

Probably the most important skill for a comedian is to be funny. Now, this is a tough one because people all have different senses of humour. So, you need to gauge your audience and consider a comedian who would be an all-around fit for everyone. Usually, this would be with comedians who use everyday parts of life that we can all relate to and poke fun at. 

Making people comfortable

One of the most underrated skills in comedy is having the ability to make people feel at ease. A great comedian knows how to read their audience and create an atmosphere where everyone feels relaxed and open to laughing. This takes empathy, awareness, and quick thinking. If the audience feels uncomfortable, it becomes much harder to enjoy the jokes, no matter how funny.

The best comedians are excellent communicators who know how to engage with people from all backgrounds. They can make everyone in the room feel included rather than singled out. This ability to set a positive tone early on helps keep the event enjoyable from start to finish. When hiring a comedian, look for someone who naturally puts people at ease and builds a warm, inclusive connection.

Creativity 

Comedy is an art form that thrives on creativity. The ability to look at ordinary situations and find something funny in them is a rare skill. Great comedians are creative thinkers who can turn everyday experiences into hilarious stories. They’re also thoughtful; they understand their audience and tailor their material to suit the mood, event type, and crowd demographics.

Keeping the audience laughing

At the end of the day, a comedian’s main job is to make people laugh and keep them laughing. This takes more than just having good jokes; it’s about maintaining momentum and energy throughout the set. Skilled comedians know how to pace their routines so that the audience never feels bored or restless. They mix punchlines, stories, and crowd interactions to keep things lively and dynamic.

Consistency is key. Even if one joke doesn’t land perfectly, a professional comedian can recover quickly and get the laughter flowing again. Their experience and confidence make it look effortless, but this ability is built from years of practice and audience interaction. A comedian who can keep the laughs going will make your event memorable for all the right reasons.

Where to find the right comedian

If you’re having trouble finding a comedian for your event, why not let Token source one for you? Token has worked with some of the best comedians in Australia, so they know each of their styles and practices. With their experience, they can source the right comedians for hire so you don’t have to worry about bringing someone in that won’t reach your audience well. 

Final thought

Hiring a comedian for an event is a great way to entertain your audience. Whether you’re wanting to break the ice with some humour, or simply give your audience a memorable evening, you need to look at hiring the right comedian to reach your audience. Consider the skills above and look for a comedian with most of them, they should be a good fit.