Category Archives: networking

Business card – got one?

Posted on by

Hi Dave – I’ve decided to order business cards. I was wondering what information I should include. I was thinking phone number, email, and website. Is there anything else I need, or any reason not to include my address? – K.S.

Hey K.S. – Great decision. I’m always surprised how many comedians or performers still don’t have business cards. Maybe they think it’s a relic from the past—like mailing out DVDs instead of sending a link—but a business card is still an important promotional tool.

How is anyone supposed to know you’re out there and available for gigs if you don’t promote yourself? Unless you’re already a known comic, have a Comedy Central special, or a big-time agent pushing for you, you need to be prepared to handle the business side of your career.

Of course, the first step in any business is to be so good on stage that people want to see you again. That comes from writing, performing, then repeating the process countless times. But once you’re ready to move forward, promotion becomes a major part of your plan. It helps you take advantage of opportunities that can lead to showcases and paying gigs.

Promotion gets your foot in the door. Talent, hard work, and dedication are what get you hired. As I say in my book Comedy FAQs and Answers:

They may call it amateur night, but nobody’s looking to hire an amateur.

Memorize that—it’s true.

Now, your question wasn’t about showcases or all the ways to promote yourself, so let’s talk specifically about business cards.

I write a lot about networking and being part of your local comedy scene because you never know who you’ll meet—someone who could genuinely help your career. But are you prepared when that moment happens?

My latest

Back when I worked at The Improv, comedians would often ask how to get an audition or how to submit a video. Then, instead of handing over a business card, they’d say, “Let me give you my email,” and expect a manager to write it down—or they’d start searching for a bar napkin to scribble on.

Were they nuts? That’s not how you make a professional impression. And in my head, every time someone did that, I’d think: “Amateur…”

Even worse, some comics would just give their name and say, “I’ll send you my link,” or “Keep me in mind for showcases.”

Sorry, but I’m terrible with names. Honestly, there’s a woman interrupting me right now while I’m trying to write this. Her name escapes me… I should remember it—we’re married.

Get the idea?

People like talent bookers, event planners, and club managers deal with a lot of names. Make it easy for them to remember you and contact you. Business cards aren’t outdated or uncool. They’re a simple, effective professional tool.

So to finally answer your question:

Your business card should include:

  • Your name
  • What you do (comedian, speaker, etc.)
  • Your best contact info
    • Phone
    • Email
    • Website (with video and promo materials)

If you have a blog, newsletter, or podcast that supports your career and is actually interesting, you can include that link too.

Electronic business cards—QR codes, NFC cards, or files you can Airdrop—are also becoming popular. They’re great to have, but not everyone uses them yet. For someone just getting started, keep it simple and carry regular business cards.

A smart move is to design your card so it stands out. A photo or logo works, but if you (or a designer friend) can create something genuinely unique, memorable, or just plain cool, people are far more likely to keep it instead of losing it in a drawer.

On the flip side!

Try out a few designs on any inexpensive business card site—there are plenty—and don’t leave the house without at least a few cards on you. You can update or redesign them any time since they’re cheap and sometimes even free.

If you’re serious about building a career, you have to take promoting and networking seriously. When you meet someone new or stumble into an opportunity, a business card clearly communicates who you are and how to reach you. There’s nothing amateur about that.

One important warning:

Never put your home address on your business card or any promotional material. You don’t know where that card may end up, and the last thing you want is some wacko showing up at your door. Yes, this has happened—to both male and female performers.

A business card isn’t an outdated relic. It’s a simple, professional way to help people find you—and hire you.

Thanks for reading and as always – keep laughing!!

Winter 2026 Standup Comedy Workshop at The Cleveland Funny Bone:

Saturdays – January 10, 17 and 24 from noon to 4 pm.

Performance at The Funny Bone – Thursday, January 29 at 7:30 pm

Space limited – for details and to register visit COMEDYWORKSHOPS.

*

Click on the banner below to sign up for Dave’s free newsletter.

Open Mics for Corporate Comedians

Posted on by

Hey Dave – Last week you talked about ‘what is corporate comedy material.’ I would also like to learn about getting into doing comedy and humorous keynotes at corporate events. – E.M.

Not a late-night open mic audience!

Hey E.M. – Let’s pick up where we left off. Last time, I talked about the kind of material comedians need to develop to get hired for corporate events. But the bigger question is: how and where do you develop that kind of act?

Here’s the challenge: the type of material you’ll need—G to PG (max) and often with a business-related angle—doesn’t always work in the usual late-night, beer-soaked open mics. But that doesn’t matter, because those crowds aren’t your audience anyway.

Your real audience consists of business owners and event planners, and you’ll find them at morning, afternoon, and evening business or association meetings. Instead of bars at midnight, look for stage time at Rotary breakfasts, Knights of Columbus luncheons, and College Club dinners—just to name a few. Almost every town has groups like these, and they’re always looking for speakers or entertainers.

Bonus incentive!

These slots usually run anywhere from five to twenty minutes—often slotted between the entrée and dessert.

Here’s the key: treat these meetings like open mics. Don’t expect to get paid (at least not at first). The magic word for getting these spots is FREE. Offer to do a clean five-minute comedy set before their featured speaker, and you’re far less likely to hear the other magic word in comedy: NO.

In my own experience, I was almost never turned down. The only exception was a 90-year-old Rotary member in the Midwest who thought his club wasn’t interested in anything except insurance, fertilizer—or both. When I explained I spoke on humor and creativity, he sounded ready to have me arrested for being anti-American. I politely thanked him, called another Rotary club, said the word FREE, and got booked right away.

As you continue writing and testing material that works in this environment, aim for longer sets—up to the typical 20-minute featured program. From my experience, most organizers welcome a variety of speakers. After all, you can’t have insurance, fertilizer, or a combo of both every single week.

After doing these enough times—and enjoying more than my fair share of free breakfasts, lunches, and dinners—I had built a solid corporate program. From there, it was a matter of networking and promoting, and before long, I was booking paid gigs. That never would’ve happened if I had tried to shape my corporate act at late-night open mics.

So, if you’re serious about the corporate market, this is a proven way to get started. And, by the way, the advice is FREE. If you can make an audience laugh at 7:30 in the morning over scrambled eggs and coffee, you’ve got a real shot at making it in the corporate comedy and keynote world.

Thanks for reading and as always – keep laughing!

For details (and free 10-minute consultation) visit Private Coaching.

Click on the banner below to sign up for Dave’s free newsletter.

3 Lessons I Learned From a 30-Year Comedy Veteran – Dave Schwensen

Posted on by

By Siddesh Pai – “I Help Comedians, Humor Keynote Speakers & Entrepreneurs Enhance Their Personal Brand Through Targeted Newsletters | Standup Comedian”

Readers: You can locate Siddesh Pai through the following link on LinkedIn. This is an interview we did earlier this year and I liked it enough to share it. Thanks Siddesh and keep laughing!!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddeshpai/

3 Lessons I Learned From a 30-Year Comedy Veteran – Dave Schwensen

Talking comedy

Dave has been working in comedy for three decades. But he wants to make one thing clear: he’s not a stand-up comedian. To me, it felt like a writer who doesn’t read. But that’s exactly what makes him different—he’s spent his career booking, coaching, and writing on the business of comedy. In our conversation, he dropped some serious wisdom on why treating comedy like a business is the key to making it a career.

1) Comedy Can’t Be Taught—But It Can Be Coached

“I don’t believe you can teach comedy. What I think is funny, you might not. My kids certainly don’t think I’m funny.” I can’t tell you the Three Stooges are funny if you don’t find slipping on a banana peel hilarious, there’s nothing he can do to change that. This is where coaching comes in. Every comedian has a different style, a different rhythm, and a different worldview. Dave helps comics refine that—polishing the delivery, cutting the fat from jokes, and shaping a strong act. Because at the end of the day, you can’t teach funny. But you can help someone be funnier.

2) No One Is Going to Hand You Stage Time – You Have to Create It

“You can’t teach timing, you can’t teach delivery, and you sure as hell can’t teach stage presence. You have to get up there and do it.” Most comedians think getting better means hitting open mics over and over. But Dave has a different take – go where the audience actually wants entertainment. Clubs are competitive. You’re performing for other comics, waiting for their turn. But business events, fundraisers, and community groups? They’re desperate for entertainment. Your first gigs might be free, but that’s how you build momentum. One day, you’re performing at a Rotary Club for free. The next, someone offers you $500 to do the same set. Stage time is currency. The more you get, the faster you grow.

3) They Call It Amateur Night, But No One Is Trying to Hire an Amateur

A lot of comedians treat stand-up like a passion project. But the ones who make a career out of it? They treat it like a business. – Networking Matters – Hanging out with comics at open mics isn’t enough. Get to know bookers, producers, and event organizers. These are the people who can actually get you paid work. – Market Yourself – Being funny isn’t enough if no one knows you exist. Build a brand, create content, and stay on people’s radar. Your name should pop up when someone’s looking for a comedian. – Be a Professional – Show up on time. Have a tight five. Be easy to work with. Give people your business card. Make yourself easy to book. The comedians who get booked aren’t just the funniest—they’re the ones who treat it like a business.

Thanks for reading – and keep laughing!

Click on the banner below to sign up for Dave’s free newsletter.

For comments, questions about workshops and coaching please email – Dave@TheComedyBook.com