Comedy is one of the most beloved, engaging, and exciting experiences that college students that their campus offers. There are, of course, comedy shows that seem unrealistic or like too much for certain campuses. At Neon Entertainment, we’ve spent more than 30 years working with colleges and universities across the country. We’ve seen firsthand how comedy can fit into different programming strategies, budgets, venues, and campuses. It’s one of the most versatile, engaging, and accessible forms of campus entertainment
We want to open your eyes to a cozier comedy night you can bring to your campus, similar to what you might expect to see at a comedy club or on social media. These shows bring your students together to connect at several price points.
At Neon Entertainment, we work with campuses across the country to book comedians for their college events. We often find that student activity departments overlook comedy in favor of other college entertainment because of its presumed price. In reality, the price some event bookers have in mind as a starting point is far too high. So today on the blog, we are going to show you how you don’t have to spend your entire student activities budget to give your students an amazing comedy show right on your campus.
Why Bring Comedy to Your Campus
Seeing a comedian on campus is one of the quintessential joys of being a college student. Going to a comedy show where you can laugh out loud with your friends and peers is a highlight of students’ academic year. Despite their overwhelming popularity, comedy shows don’t get booked for colleges as frequently as they deserve.
This is a shame because of all the amazing reasons that students LOVE when a comedian is booked on their campus. Some of these reasons are:
It’s a chance to engage with their friends & peers
Comedy is often popular because it gives students opportunities to have a good time socially on campus, both with their friends and the community
Students can let off stress they’ve been building during the semester
College is stressful for students, perhaps more now than ever. Comedy shows on campus allow students to let off some steam they’ve been building up during the semester and release their anxiety, they have.
It’s beneficial to students’ mental health to laugh as a community
Laughing and having a good time with others has consistently been shown to be beneficial for a person’s mental health. The mental health of college students is important to us at Neon Entertainment. Anything we can do to support the mission of positive mental health on campus is something that brings us great joy
It gives students a reason to engage with their campus community
Many college students can feel separated from the community on campus. By providing a fun and engaging event, activities departments give students a reason to participate in the community and not simply show up for class and then go home or to their dorm.
It’s simply a lot of FUN
The most important reason at the end of the day to bring a comedian to your campus is fun. Seeing a comedy show is an absolute blast as a college student. It’s one of the most versitile, entertaining, and engaging things to do on campus that will break up the everyday routine.
Comedy Creates Connection
Comedy has a way of bringing people together. Laughing and having fun together connects people in a way that makes them feel like they are part of a community. Students who have never talked to eachother will be laughing side by side in this shared experience.
The connection doesn’t end once the show does either. Comedy creates a wealth of common stories, jokes, and emotions that students will mention and bring up to eachother for months or even years to come.
How to Bring Comedy to Your Campus
With our 30+ years of experience here at Neon, we know what makes a good comedy event for colleges. We want to share what we’ve discovered works to get colleges a comedy show that students love, and that will fit within a student activities budget.
Book a Comedian Who Frequently Does College Shows
If you decide to book a comedian who frequently does college shows, they will not only be much more familiar with your budget, but they will also be experienced in handling the unique challenges that could come up when preparing for a college stand-up show.
There’s a difference between doing stand-up at a comedy club on a Friday night and performing for a college audience on campus. Comedians who are experienced in the college world are more aware of what student activities departments are looking for. Experienced college comedians can keep the comedy clean, adapt to unique scenarios on campus, and tailor their show to be engaging to the college audience.
Look Beyond the Biggest Names in Comedy
When planning to bring comedians to campus, many activities departments make the mistake of thinking too big. They will often think of the most famous national comedians on a giant stage with a full production team. That’s a great experience, but it could cost the college tens of thousands of dollars. Additionally, we often find that booking a comedian who is experienced in campus entertainment ends up being a better experience overall than booking the biggest comedians.
Oftentimes, colleges want something less extreme for their comedy show, and there are a vast number of hilarious comedians who can bring an entertaining stand-up experience to your campus without costing nearly as much as the top 20 comedians in the country.
Instead of booking someone who is nationally famous, book someone who is rising up in the comedy world. Upcoming comedians who are eager and talented, who will make your crowd excited and roar with laughter. You will get an amazing exclusive comedy show on your campus that students will love and remember for years to come, without spending the entire budget.
See our list of college comedians
Bring the Laughter to You!
If you are looking to bring a comedian to your college event, you are in the right place. At Neon Entertainment, we provide solutions to book comics for colleges all over the United States. We bring the fun to you while still giving you the freedom to plan your event as you please.
All of our comedians are experienced in the college setting. If you are interested in booking one for your college, contact us today! We can work with you to ensure that their set is in accordance with your campus’s standards, and we are ready to answer any questions or concerns you have about bringing comedy to your campus.
