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.
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
- Project total revenue across all streams
- Set ticket prices for profitability
- Calculate bar and food revenue per patron
- Plan merchandise and add-on revenue
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