CB Comedy Booker

Templates

Comedy Booking Contract Template (Free, Plain-English)

· 7 min read

A real contract takes 10 minutes to fill out and prevents 90% of the disasters that happen at the booking stage. This is a plain-English template you can copy, adapt, and send to either side of a comedy booking — comic or venue.

It's not legal advice (we say this because lawyers care, but also because every jurisdiction is different). For private events under $5,000 in fees, this template is fine. Above that, have a lawyer review it.

When you need a contract

Always. Even for a $300 corporate gig. Especially for a $300 corporate gig — that's the price point where venues are most likely to cancel without consequence. The contract is what gives you a kill fee.

The two situations where comics most often regret not having a contract:

  1. The client postpones to a date the comic isn't free, then asks for the deposit back.
  2. The client wants to record the set "for internal use" and then posts it online.

Both are prevented by a one-page document.

The template

Copy from below. Replace anything in [brackets]. Keep formatting simple — a Word doc or Google Doc is fine. Don't overthink the design; bookers and comics both prefer plain documents.

COMEDY PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT

This agreement is between:

  CLIENT: [Client legal name]
          [Address]
          [Email] / [Phone]

  ARTIST: [Comedian legal name]
          [Address]
          [Email] / [Phone]

1. PERFORMANCE DETAILS

   Date:           [Day, Month Date, Year]
   Arrival time:   [Time, e.g., 6:00 PM local]
   Performance:    [Time, e.g., 8:30 PM local]
   Set length:     [e.g., 25 minutes, with up to 5 min flex]
   Venue:          [Venue name and full address]
   Audience:       Approx. [number] guests, [brief description]
   Content rating: [G / PG / PG-13 / Custom — see Section 7]

2. FEE

   Total fee:           $[amount] USD
   Deposit:             $[amount] (50%) due by [date], 14 days from signing
   Balance:             $[amount] due on [date of event], before performance
   Payment method:      [bank transfer / cheque / Venmo / Zelle / etc.]

3. TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION

   Client will provide / reimburse:
   [ ] Round-trip economy airfare from [Artist's home city]
   [ ] Hotel for [number] nights, three-star or better
   [ ] Ground transportation to and from venue
   [ ] Per diem of $[amount] per day for meals

   Or: Travel included in fee above (no separate reimbursement). [delete one option]

4. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

   Client will provide:
   - Wired handheld microphone with stand
   - Monitor speaker, audible from stage
   - Stage area, raised, minimum 6'x 4'
   - Single-light spot on performer; ability to dim audience lighting
   - 5-minute sound check, completed at least 1 hour before performance
   - Quiet, private green room space, available 30 min before performance
   - Bottled water, snacks, in green room

5. CANCELLATION

   By Client:
   - 60+ days before event: Deposit refunded in full minus $[amount] admin fee
   - 30–60 days before event: 50% of deposit refunded
   - Under 30 days: No refund; full balance still due
   - Postponement: Both parties to find a mutually acceptable replacement
     date within 12 months. If no date works, Under 30 days clause applies.

   By Artist:
   - Artist will provide a comparable replacement performer of similar
     experience and content rating, OR refund the full deposit, at Client's
     choice.
   - In case of medical emergency or force majeure (Section 8), Artist
     will refund the deposit and is not liable for additional damages.

6. RECORDING

   - Neither party will record the performance (audio or video) without
     advance written permission of the other.
   - Photography in the green room is not permitted without Artist's
     consent.
   - Photography of the performance is permitted by audience members
     unless Client requests otherwise.
   - Any approved recording is for internal use only unless a separate
     license is agreed in writing.

7. CONTENT GUIDELINES

   Artist agrees that the performance will:
   [ ] Contain no profanity
   [ ] Contain no sexual content
   [ ] Contain no jokes about [list specific topics]
   [ ] Avoid any reference to [list specific people, departments, etc.]

   Artist may, at their discretion, include light material referencing the
   Client's organization if pre-approved 48 hours before the event.

8. FORCE MAJEURE

   Neither party is liable for failure to perform due to circumstances
   beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to: severe
   weather, public health orders, transportation cancellations, family
   emergency, or venue closure. In such case, the parties will work in
   good faith to reschedule, and any deposits paid will be applied to
   the rescheduled date.

9. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

   Artist is engaged as an independent contractor, not an employee of
   Client. Artist is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and
   professional expenses.

10. GOVERNING LAW

    This agreement is governed by the laws of [State / Country].

SIGNED:

____________________________   ____________________________
Client signature               Artist signature

Date: ________________         Date: ________________

How to use it

  1. Copy the whole thing into a Google Doc. Replace the [brackets]. Save as a PDF.
  2. Send it before any deposit changes hands. "Once we have a signed contract, I'll send the deposit invoice."
  3. Use a free e-sign tool (Google Docs share, Adobe Sign Free, HelloSign Free) — physical signing is not necessary.
  4. Save the signed version. Both parties keep a copy.

Common modifications

  • Travel arranged by Client: replace Section 3 with "Client will arrange and pay all travel directly. Artist will be consulted on flight times."
  • Multi-day events: extend Section 1 with each performance date and add to Section 2.
  • Buyout / exclusivity: add a Section 11: "Artist will not perform within [X miles] of the Venue in the [Y] days preceding the event. Buyout fee: $[Z]."
  • Meet and greet: add to Section 1: "Meet-and-greet: 30 minutes immediately following performance. Included in fee."

What's deliberately not in this template

  • Indemnification clauses. They matter for big bookings (>$10k); they make small bookings unwieldy.
  • Insurance requirements. Most working comics don't carry separate liability insurance and shouldn't be required to.
  • Detailed merchandise terms. If merch is a thing for this comic, add a separate section; otherwise skip it.
  • Long, scary "termination for cause" language. The cancellation section above handles 99% of real situations.

One-line rule: if the contract is more than two pages, you've added something you don't need. Bookers and comics both prefer short contracts; long ones get unsigned.

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