Decide on your budget. Determining how much you want to pay a comedian to perform at your event will help narrow your selection. Comedians' performances vary in price -- and the rate usually depends on the performer's popularity -- but expect to pay anywhere from a couple of hundred to thousands of dollars.
Contact the comedian or his booking agent. Local comedians may be listed in the phone book, but agents represent many performers -- requiring you to make all the arrangements with a third party prior to the event. Websites including comedianbookings.com, chartertalent.com and funny-business.com serve booking agencies that represent comedians and can assist you with planning your event.
Read, sign and return a copy of the comedian's contract either by fax or postal mail. The contract lists the comedian's fixed performance rate, stage performance conditions -- like sound, stage lighting and type of venue -- and rider requirements. Rider requirements list what the performer requires to perform, including how many people are allowed in the audience and what items the performer requests for her dressing room. If you're booking an out-of-town comedian who must travel to your event, her accommodation specifications -- like the type of travel and hotel arrangements -- will also be listed in the contract. Local comedians who don't need to travel will not have accommodation specifications.
Wait for the comedian to accept the terms of the agreement and the date of the performance. Once he signs the contract, the act is booked. Comedians can decline an invitation to perform and may do so if they have a conflicting event or don't like the venue.