Want to land more gigs? It all starts with your reel. Whether you're aiming for clubs, corporate events, or online comedy shows, your reel is your calling card—and bookers are watching. A great reel makes you stand out. A bad one… well, let’s just say your emails might go unanswered.
Here’s how to create a reel that makes bookers hit “Reply.”
✅ What Makes a Great Comedy Reel?
1. Show us the laughs!
Bookers want to hear the audience laughing. A 5-minute clip of your unedited material—with actual laughs—is golden.
2. Lights, camera, you!
You should be well lit, framed clearly, and your audio should be crisp. If your face is in shadow, or your camera shakes like a found-footage horror film, it’s a no.
3. Focus on you, not the crowd.
We don’t need to see the audience. We need to see how you connect with them. Keep the camera on your face and body language—not the back of someone’s head.
4. Match the gig.
Don’t submit a rowdy club set if you’re applying for a corporate gig. Tailor your reel to the type of event you want to get booked for. If you work both clean and club sets, create two reels.
5. Label your reel clearly.
Use professional, easy-to-understand naming like:
- JaneDoe_CleanComedy_CorporateReel_LAComedyFest_March2025.mp4
And if you’re uploading it to YouTube, make the title clear and searchable. Example:
- “Jane Doe | Clean Comedy Reel | Corporate-Friendly | LA Comedy Fest 2025” At a minimum, include your name, the type of comedy (clean, corporate, blue, etc.), the venue, and the date.
🚫 Avoid These Reel Wreckers
❌ “How’s everyone doing tonight?”
Don’t open your reel with crowd temperature checks. Get to the jokes. We want to see your writing and timing—not your small talk.
❌ No laugh tracks.
Nothing screams “no one laughed at this live” like a laugh track. If the room laughed, great. If they didn’t, it probably shouldn’t be your reel.
❌ Skip the crowd work—unless it’s your specialty.
Unless a booker is specifically hiring you for crowd work, don’t include it in your main reel. If you’re a killer at it, create a separate “Crowd Work Reel.”
❌ Don’t use music intros or flashy graphics.
This isn’t your demo reel for MTV circa 2002. Just cut right into the set.
❌ Don’t edit out pauses or laughter.
Bookers want to see your real rhythm and pacing. Over-editing makes it look like you’re hiding something—or that you perform in front of robots.
❌ We don’t need to hear the host introduce you.
Unless the emcee’s intro is so good it could win a Peabody, skip it. We don’t need to know your credits or that you “just got back from doing shows in the Midwest.” We’re already bored. Start with the jokes.
🎬 What If You Don’t Have an Upcoming Gig?
No bookings yet? No problem. Produce your own!
Here’s how:
- Host a private show in a bar, café, garage, or even your living room.
- Record with care. Use a tripod and a decent mic. Borrow or rent gear if needed. Smartphones work fine if you set them up well.
- Perform your best 5-minute set. This is not the time to test new stuff.
- Make sure the audience laughs. Don’t overdub, don’t fake it—real laughter, real people.
💡 Have you done a show on Plauzzable yet?
If not, get going! Invite your loving fans and create a great online reel—especially if you’re going to be booking virtual gigs. It’s also a great way to show bookers that you’ve got the chops to perform on camera. (Hello, future commercials and TV appearances!)
📦 Final Tips to Reel It All In
- Start strong. Bookers may only watch the first 60–90 seconds—so make it count.
- Stay in frame. Especially if you move around. A wandering comic and a wandering camera = frustration.
- Show your true self. Your reel should reflect what a booker would get if they hired you tonight.
- Make sure your reel is accessible. Upload it to YouTube or Vimeo and never send a “private” video link—bookers don’t want to request access, check their inbox, and wait for you to approve. Use “unlisted” instead. It’s viewable by anyone with the link but won’t appear in public searches. Don’t make bookers work harder than they already do.
📽️ Your Reel Is Your Resume
A good reel can open doors. A bad one can close them. Be intentional, be real, and most importantly—be funny.
📖 Suggested Reading
Nailing Your Introduction: A Comedian's Guide to Booking Inquiries
Written by
Plauzzable