Imogen Thomas and Sarah Dodd of Avalon Promotions Ltd explore each of the elements needed to create a successful comedy night. Imogen and Sarah offer insight into how to market your comedy night, the costs involved, how to work your venue, and the acts that are on offer.

1. The Key to Successful Comedy
Events
Brought to you by Sarah & Imogen of
Avalon Promotions

2. Avalon Promotions Ltd
• Avalon Promotions books and promotes
artists for an unrivalled 1500 comedy shows a
year in venues ranging from
colleges, universities, arts centres, theatres
and international festivals to stadium comedy
tours and corporate entertainment.

3. What makes a comedy night
successful?
• Great acts
• A good, inclusive atmosphere
• Suitable venue set up
• Regular format
• Effective branding

4. The Comedy Network
• The Comedy Network was established in 1992
to provide professional and affordable comedy
to Universities and Colleges across the UK.
• We bring the rising stars of the comedy circuit
to your union and help you create a stand up
night that everyone can enjoy

5. Some well known acts who have previously performed on the Comedy
Network are:
RUSSELL HOWARD
AL MURRAY
FRANK SKINNER

6. And....
Russell Kane
Greg Davies
Lee Nelson

7. Format of a regular night
30 MINUTES SUPPORT
20 MINUTES INTERVAL
1 HOUR HEADLINER
HEADLINERS ON THE 2012-2013 COMEDY NETWORK INCLUDE:
CARL DONNELLY
TOM DEACON
JIMMY MCGHIE
NAZ OSMANOGLU

8. Ray Peacock
Ed Gamble
Roisin Conaty
Jarlath Regan
Paul McCaffrey

9. Network Specials:
Freshers, Refreshers and Balls
Russell Howard
Greg Davies
Lee Nelson
Russell Kane
Chris Ramsey
Joe Wilkinson

10. Venue Set Up –
Creating a good atmosphere
Sound
Lighting
Staging
Seating
Music

11. Marketing Your Comedy Night
Print – posters and flyers - distribution
Student newspaper/radio – interviews, previews
Online social media – Facebook / twitter
Student involvement – i.e. comedy societies

12. Cost of Putting on a Comedy Night
Advantages of signing up to regular nights –
building an audience / word of mouth
Budget should be flexible – fixed fee
Introducing potential of bigger names for warm-
ups etc. Generate excitement / reputation.

13. Unions using our regular Comedy Network
package 2012-2013 include:
• University of Brighton
• University of Hertfordshire
• Newport University
• University of Roehampton
• Royal Holloway University
• Queen Mary University
• University of St Andrews
• St George’s University

14. Avalon Promotions Ltd
The Comedy Network