How much money does a Stand up Comedian make on Average?

Question

Not speaking of Major headliners. Speaking of Comedy Club and Improv comedians.

Answer 1

Enough to choose between store brands and major brands of Peanut butter.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

I am a comedian in Denver CO and I can tell you that most comics don't make much of anything. Most open mics ( of which you will do tons) don't pay anything. Once you're able to get booked on local showcases you may make anywhere from $5-$25 as a opening act (5-15 min of time on stage) as a feature act you'll make anywhere from $10-$50 for 30 min of performing and anywhere from $20-$100 for 30-60 min of performing. Now, this may seem like it's decent money but keep this in mind, starting out for the first couple of years you aren't likely to get paid anything. Once you do start to get paid, it won't be at the top of the ranges I quoted, it will be at the bottom or in the middle. So $5, $10, $20 for shows. However, it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to put enough bookings together to add up to any real money. Initially you make get booked 1-5 times a month. Maybe. Some months you won't be booked at all. You'll need a job to depend on to pay your bills as stand up comedy will not pay your bills, even if you're very good. On average it takes 5-10 years to become "very good" at stand up because there are several skills that need to be learned besides being funny. Reading a crowd, dealing with interruptions,telling stories properly, being extemporaneous, learning when and were to put in act outs, dealing with hecklers, dealing with bombing, dealing with stage fright ( if you have any), dealing with other comics, getting booked, getting on at comedy clubs, moving up in the comedy club system, the list is longer than I care to type out. But, keep this in mind, it's not easy or everyone would be doing it. You'll have to be extremely serious about being a comedian to get anywhere with it ( regarding being paid) If you just want to fool around with it as a hobby then you'll have a ton of fun. But all the fun is removed from stand up when you're trying to make a living doing it. The stress stacks up pretty fast and the eviction notices only give you 3 days to get the money together. My advice is to do comedy for the fun and experience of it and once you're good you can make money at it. Until you're good, keep your day job, you'll need it.

Answer 3

I made about £800 doing improv last year, but that was never really the plan, it just panned out that way.

Do people get into comedy for the money? What's wrong with them?

Answer 4

the major headliners make million's, most others don't make money of it, they do it just for fun.

Answer 5

15,000 a yr about if ur lucky but most likely 8,000 a yr

Answer 6

Not as much as you would think...