Comedy Show Revenue Calculator
Calculate comedy show revenue from ticket sales, bar sales, merchandise, and food for comedy venues.
Bar & Food
Costs Per Show
Profit per Show
$2K
46% margin · 113 attendees
Weekly
$10K
Monthly
$42K
Annual
$499K
Rev/Seat
$34.65
Revenue per Show
Costs per Show
Break-Even
You need 67 attendees (45% occupancy) per show to break even. Bar and food revenue typically drive the majority of profit for comedy venues.
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How to Use This Calculator
Enter venue capacity, number of shows per week, and expected occupancy rate.
Set ticket prices and add food/drink minimum or package options.
Add comedian fees, staff costs, and venue operating expenses.
Review projected revenue, profit margins, and per-show economics.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much revenue does a comedy show generate?
A 200-seat comedy club averaging 70% capacity at $25/ticket generates about $3,500 per show in ticket revenue. Add bar sales ($15-25/person) and food ($10-20/person), and total per-show revenue reaches $8,000-15,000.
What is the average ticket price for a comedy show?
Open mic nights are typically free or $5-10. Local headliners charge $15-30. National touring comics command $25-75. A-list comedians charge $50-200+. Two-drink minimums or food/drink packages can add $15-30 per ticket effectively.
How much do comedy clubs make from bar sales?
Bar revenue typically equals or exceeds ticket revenue, accounting for 40-55% of total income. Average spend per patron is $15-30 on drinks. Two-drink minimums ensure baseline beverage revenue of $12-20 per person.
How much should I pay a comedian?
Open mic performers work for free or small payouts. Feature acts earn $200-1,000/show. Local headliners earn $1,000-3,000. National headliners earn $5,000-25,000. Top-tier comedians earn $50,000-500,000+ per show. The comedian fee should be 15-30% of projected ticket revenue.
How many shows should a comedy club run per week?
Most clubs run 8-12 shows per week: open mics 1-2 nights, local acts mid-week, and headliners Thursday-Saturday (2 shows Friday/Saturday). Sunday can be experimental or themed shows. More shows increase revenue but also increase staff and talent costs.
Why Use This Calculator
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Project total revenue across all streams
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Set ticket prices for profitability
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Calculate bar and food revenue per patron
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Plan merchandise and add-on revenue
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