One of the most common questions asked by Hard Knock Knocks comedy students is “How much do stand-up comedians make?” It’s a valid question, but unfortunately one that is hard to answer. Firstly, the industry is not regulated by an Award rate, unlike other jobs within The Arts. While the Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman’s ‘Pay Guide – Live Performance Award‘ includes Dancers, Musicians, Production Crew and even Striptease Artists¹, there is no mention of stand-up comedians.
So without regulation, stand-up comedians are at the mercy of a number of factors that can shift a single gig from free to $10,000 – or more! Let’s explore the four main variables that influence that fee.
1. Hierarchy
There are four main groups of comedians on the Australian comedy circuit. Celebrity Comedians, Professional Comedians, Semi-Professional Comedians and the Open Mic-ers.
TV/Radio Celebrity Comedians
TV/Radio celebrity comedians, such as Dave Hughes, Wil Anderson, and Kitty Flanagan, earn most of their income from TV and radio but still perform stand-up, particularly during comedy festivals. While their stand-up performances are occasional, their annual income can be substantial. For example, WHO Magazine estimates Dave Hughes’ yearly earnings at AU$1.65 million. However, these figures reflect earnings beyond stand-up, including endorsements and TV appearances. In Australia, there are fewer than 50 TV/Radio Celebrity Comedians.
The Full Time Professional Comedians
Australia’s full-time stand-up comedy scene includes around 100 comedians who derive almost all their income from performing. Think of them as the AFL players of comedy: they focus solely on their craft. Their dedication allows them to tour nationally and internationally, often earning $500 to $10,000 per show depending on the venue and audience.
The Semi-Profesional Comedians
At the semi-professional comedian level there’s around 50 stand-up comedians in Australia. Think of these comedians like players of the early VFL. By night, they’re a comedian. But they haven’t given up their day jobs. Literally. This means that they that while they draw an income from making people laugh on stage, the also supplement their income through a regular or occasional day job. Semi-professionals can earn $200–$1,000 per gig, depending on the audience and event.
Open Mic Comedians
Sticking with the AFL metaphors, open mic-ers are like kids at Saturday morning Auskick. These are new comedians, being only a few months or couple of years into their career. Most open mic gigs are unpaid, though some offer modest compensation ($50–$100) during peak festival seasons. Open mic rooms come and go, but here’s a list of rooms in Melbourne and Adelaide.
2. Pay Type
Comedian pay can vary significantly based on how the payment is structured. What’s best for the comedian (+++) may not necessarily be what’s best for the organiser, particularly in an ever increasing cashless society and stricter tax regulation on entertainment.
Cash on night (+++)
Cash payments often come with a discount, especially for high-profile comedians. A household-name comedian might cut their $8,000 fee to $4,000 for cash. Similarly, semi-professional comedians might accept $200 instead of $300, if paid cash in hand.
Gigme Platform (++)
Gigme has similar benefits to cash, with one advantage. The payment is held in escrow, meaning once the gig is performed the payment is automatically released to the comedian. Gigme removes the risk of not being paid on the night, plus it does all the invoicing automatically meaning once a gig is complete, it’s complete. Of course, there is a paper trail.
The other advantage of Gigme is that it’s not just a payment platform. It is a direct link to professional comedians, bypassing the middlemen.
Bank Transfer (+)
Manual bank transfers, while relatively convenient, leave a paper trail and can be inconvenient for the organiser to pay on the night. Consequently, they often get delayed. Furthermore, a bank transfer requires the comedian to manually issue an invoice. It’s not uncommon for a comedian to spend hours per week creating and chasing invoices.
3. Organiser Type
Who you are, or represent, will also affect the fee you will pay.
Corporate ($$$)
A corporate gig, however, gig will incur a premium. The same comedian that performs at a comedy room for 200 bucks cash on a Thursday, might be booked for two grand on Friday.
Sports Club ($$)
Sports clubs provide moderate pay, typically between $500 and $1,500 per comedian. That means a lineup of three comedians could cost well over $3,000.
Comedy Room ($)
Well-known venues like The Comics’ Lounge in Melbourne and The Comedy Store in Sydney provide steady work but offer modest pay of around $50 to $300 per set. These gigs are valuable for exposure and honing material.
Charity ($ – 0)
During the 2019/2020 fires that ravished Australia’s coasts, comedians were asked to donate their time to headline fundraisers to help rebuild communities. Many of these comedians performed for free, or at most, had their expenses covered.
Open Mic Room (0)
Open mic nights rarely pay, focusing instead on providing a platform for new talent to gain experience. On very rare occasions an MC might be paid, but that’s quite uncommon.
4. Booking Type
Via an Agency
Booking agents like Token, A-List Entertainment manage the biggest names in stand-up comedy. They also add a management fee of around 15 to 25 percent. So you’ll get great names, but pay a bit more.
Going Direct
Platforms like Gigme facilitate direct bookings with only a 10% service fee. This approach allows organisers to negotiate directly with comedians and guarantees payment upon gig completion.
So how much do stand-up comedians in Australia make?
For new comedians, earnings start small. Open mic-ers often go unpaid for the first year. After five years of consistent work and improvement, some may consider transitioning to semi-professional status. Here’s a rough guide to earnings:
- Celebrity Comedian + Corporate Gig + Bank Transfer = $5,000 to $10,000 per gig.
- Professional Comedian + Comedy Room + Cash on the Night = $200 to $2,000 per gig.
- Open Mic-er + Gigme Payment + Comedy Room = $50 to $100 per gig.
A common rule of thumb is $10 per minute of performance time, though this varies greatly depending on the factors outlined above.
The stand-up comedy industry is diverse and unpredictable. Comedians make the most money when booked by a corporation through an agency and paid via invoice. Conversely, open mic-ers earn the least, often performing for free in exchange for stage time and experience. While comedy can be lucrative at the top, most comedians start small and work tirelessly to climb the ladder.
For aspiring comedians, persistence is key. If you’re serious about pursuing comedy, focus on improving your craft and building a network. With time and dedication, the laughs and money will follow.
(1) Striptease Artists must receive a minimum of $31.76 per hour, in case you were wondering.