Shaun Eli is a clean stand-up comedian specializing in corporate events and comedy for financial institutions, stand-up comedy for theatres, charity fundraisers, private events and virtual shows. Featured in The New York Times and on Amazon Prime, and Netflix, he delivers smart, clean comedy for audiences worldwide.
“Dear Shaun, Thank you so much for appearing at our fundraising dinner. Everyone loved you and really appreciated your being there. From the minute you hit the stage you had us all roaring with laughter! The feedback we’re getting from everyone is terrific. You were original and clever as well as quick-witted in dealing with the audience, and you were an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Mitch Baum, Chairman, Burgers for Autism, Garden Academy
“Shaun writes the kind of smart comedy I like to use in my opening monologue.”
Jay Leno, former host of The Tonight Show
About Shaun Eli
Stand-up comedian Shaun Eli has rightfully been called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or successfully fighting a parking ticket in criminal court, master storyteller Shaun Eli shows you that there’s hilarity in the ordinary if you approach life with a comedic warp. Job interviews? How about the Ten Commandments? For just about anything he’s experienced he has hilarious stories at the ready. With a sense of humor that’s both cheerful and universal Shaun has headlined shows on six continents. He tours with Armed Forces Entertainment, where he has performed in such war-torn hell-holes as Curacao and The Bahamas. He starred in “The Ivy League of Comedy Live from the Emelin Theatre” on Amazon and in seasons 1 & 2 of QuickLaffs on Netflix. Shaun has been a professional comedian for more than 20 years and has 30 years of professional comedy-writing experience.
(Some) UPCOMING SHOWS
More Shows
Some FAQ
- Do you perform clean, corporate-friendly comedy?
Absolutely. My comedy is a great fit for corporate and professional audiences, clean, smart, and appropriate for corporate and industry events. I worked in finance for twenty years and I majored in marketing and economics at Wharton. I’m also great for shows at houses of worship, especially for synagogues and churches (I’m Jewish but I also have some great jokes for church audiences).
- Why hire a clean comedian for corporate events?
A clean comedian is a must for a corporate or industry event or a charity fund-raiser. Why would you risk offending your attendees with inappropriate topics or language? I used to work as a risk manager, so avoiding risk is always on my mind. And why hire a comedian in the first place? There is almost nothing that’s more fun than laughing!
- What types of events do you specialize in?
I perform at corporate events, conferences, awards dinners, fundraisers, country clubs, houses of worship, private parties, and theaters. I have a finance background so I’m especially good for events in the financial industry (Wall Street/banking, insurance). Whether you need a performer or a host/emcee, I bring polished, professional comedy that fits the tone of your event.
- Do you travel for events?
Yes, of course. I regularly perform across the U.S. and internationally. I’ve headlined shows on six continents. I try to make it easy for you, quoting a flat fee that includes my travel costs built-in.
- How far in advance can or should we book you?
Corporate and fundraising events often book several months ahead, but last-minute dates are often available. I’ve booked events two years out, and I’ve booked shows the day before. If you have a specific date in mind, reach out. I’m happy to hold a date while we work out the details.
- What makes your comedy a good fit for corporate audiences?
I bring decades of experience performing for Fortune 500 companies, industry associations and professional groups. My comedy is intelligent, relatable, and free of the risks that make some comedians a poor fit for corporate settings. You get a seasoned performer who understands business audiences.
“Positively Funny” is Shaun Eli’s new one-man show
What Shaun does
- Corporate stand-up comedy for professional events
- Comedy shows for theatres and performing arts centers
- Comedy shows to raise funds for charities including houses of worship
- Humorous keynote speeches (no strong message, just strong comedy)
- Comedy for country clubs and other organizations, and for private parties
Corporate Comedy
Laughter is a shared experience that adds group cohesion. It’s great for team-building. Wharton-educated corporate stand-up comedian Shaun Eli is an expert at making people laugh with just his words. With over two decades of performing experience, he knows what types of humor are most appropriate for corporate and industry events, whether it’s a company party, an industry conference or an awards event or banquet.
Theatre Shows
Shaun Eli has been arranging and performing in shows for theatres and performing arts centers for two decades. He is a pro at producing shows for theatres, either solo shows or with hilarious colleagues. His written agreement is concise and written in plain English. And the technical requirements for comedy are easy- we just need a sound system and a seated audience.
Fundraisers
Shaun is an expert at performing in fundraising shows for charities and houses of worship. Having a comedy night is great for raising funds for your organization, and Shaun’s clients rave that he’s not just funny, but fun and easy to deal with. Studies show that getting people to laugh increases fundraising. Studies have also shown that people value experiences more than we value possessions. The pleasure we get from buying something new wears off very quickly but a pleasurable experience lives on in our memory. A comedy show is a great, fun experience! And Shaun is very affordable for non-profits!
Where Shaun does this
Shaun Eli performs all over the world. Based in the NYC area, he has headlined shows on six continents and has toured with Armed Forces Entertainment.
Some of Shaun’s major corporate and charity clients
Novartis, Microsoft and Charles Schwab, The US Army War College, Armed Forces Entertainment, The Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, Numerous synagogues, Chabads, Jewish Community Centers, Jewish Federations, churches, charities, schools, theatres and performing arts centers, country clubs and seniors groups. Plus numerous private clients.
Why book Shaun Eli?
Shaun isn’t just funny. He’s also easy to work with, affordable and helpful. His comedy is clean, appropriate and universal, safe for your event. His humor is clever, not mean. He has headlined shows on six continents, has been featured in The New York Times and on Amazon, Netflix and WNBC TV plus the nationally-syndicated Joey Reynolds Radio Show. Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno has praised his comedy-writing. Shaun has over two decades of experience as a stand-up comedian, and even before that he was a part-time professional comedy writer. He is reliable and professional to work with. In addition, his shows can include a “backstage pass” allowing the audience to ask him questions at the end of the show.
Shaun has written articles and op-eds on comedy for several publications.
Shaun Eli majored in marketing and economics at Wharton and holds a master’s degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
More than a few testimonials
“Shaun Eli did an amazing job performing virtually for our department. He had us laughing from the start, engaging with the audience and kept us laughing the whole time. And after he finished he told us stories from his career and answered our questions, without ever stopping being entertaining. I imagine it’s not easy to make a small audience of only a dozen people laugh on a screen but he was wonderful!”
Mike Savage
Managing Director
Charles Schwab
“You were the most talked-about part of our group’s trip to NYC- everyone had such a wonderfully hilarious evening. We all appreciated your ability to interact with a very diverse audience, military officers and diplomats intermixed with New Yorkers and visiting tourists from all over, and still keep your material fresh, clever and relevant to everyone.
People who’ve made a career out of slogging through mud while under fire aren’t going to be offended by dirty words, but they still marveled at your friendly and professional ability to rock the room without the use of foul language or vulgar content. I would recommend you to any group seeking entertainment.”
Jiyul Kim
Colonel, U.S. Army
Director of Asian Studies
U.S. Army War College
“Shaun, Many thanks again! The team really enjoyed your performance and deeply appreciated the additional time you spent sharing your personal story and perspective.
Wishing you only success”
Jeremy Sohn
VP, Global Head of Digital BD&L, Partnerships, & Innovation
Novartis
“Shaun was SUPER. Not only did he do a phenomenal job emceeing our corporate function but with his corporate background he completely understood our complicated business and what we needed from an emcee for the launch of our unique event. And after the event he took the initiative to stick around and discuss the logistics with our participants so he could make suggestions to make the event even better the next time we do it.”
Kayvan Farzaneh
Senior Manager
VSC Consulting
“Dear Shaun,
Thanks so much for putting on such a great show at our church on Thursday afternoon. Everyone enjoyed it immensely! You are funny and you strive to make a connection with your audience. You asked questions beforehand to get an idea of the “personality” of your audience. You spoke about your Jewish heritage and upbringing. Then you made reference to the cross on the wall, which symbolizes a very important Jew to us. You very graciously held a question and answer session with us, at the end of your show. You also were so kind to stick around and talk with the two people in our group who are just starting out in comedy. You built a relationship with us and made us laugh.”
Thank you!
Karen Schmidt
Deacon
Hampton Presbyterian Church
“Shaun:
I want to thank you again for the wonderful set and for the post-performance Q&A session that you did for the FJMC virtual International Convention. We had a huge challenge when we decided to go with a virtual convention in how we were going to deliver entertainment to our 600 attendees. You made that process extremely easy. Your virtual stand-up comedy was hilarious and our members really loved hearing about your process and how the world of comedy works. All of your work made the event a huge success. The feedback we received from our members was all so positive and made the entertainment portion of the convention a huge hit.
I look forward to getting a chance to work with you again in the future – whether it be virtual or in-person.”
Douglas Segerman
Programming Chair
2021 Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs International Convention
“We had Corporate take a look at your agreement, some changes were made, but they wanted me to pass along they LOVED your humor and never laughed so hard working on a contract.”
Carla Brady
Manager of Resident Services
Erickson Living
“WE WERE THRILLED WITH THE SHOW. The word of mouth has been great… thanks again for bringing your talents to Sharon.”
Alan M-L Wager
Artistic Director
Sharon Playhouse
“Thank you again for being with us last night. The laughter you brought to the room, especially on such a difficult day, meant so much. It was a real gift to our community.
Last night was a great evening, and it meant a lot to have our community together, sharing some laughter at a time when that connection feels especially important.
Thanks again and all the best to you.
Shabbat Shalom,”
Marci Sturman
Director of Development
JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
(Note: The reference to it being a difficult day: This was a fundraising show for the Jewish Community Center on the same day as a terrorist attack on a nearby synagogue (non-fatal except for the attacker))
“Shaun is stupendous! We spent a little over an hour on the phone to come up with some jokes for my company’s e-commerce site. I was amazed at how quickly he thought of funny things for us to put on our website to keep it interesting and draw attention to our novel products. His comedy was not just about the products themselves- he even came up with a joke to boast about the low price we are charging. Shaun’s price for his expertise? Very fair and reasonable. Need original comedy for your business? Hire Shaun.”
Jacqueline von Edenberg
Founder & Chief Feline Officer
Scratch Out Scratchers, Inc.
But this is my favorite, even though their rules strictly prohibit my quoting the person by name (or even asking for a name)
“You’re wonderful! Bless you for coming! This is the first time in three months I’ve seen my wife smile.”
Husband of a cancer patient after a show at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Booking information
To hire clean comedian Shaun Eli anywhere in the world for your corporate or charity event, theatre or performing arts center, golf club, country club or yacht club event, industry conference, private party, community or alumni group or service organization start by asking! Advice is free. Call or text (914) it’s-funny (914) 487-3866 or email Shaun (at) BrainChampagne dot com.
Shaun is very responsive, usually within minutes or hours, and almost always the same day. Note that if he’s traveling internationally there may be a slight delay in his response due to time zone differences.
Solar-powered comedysm: Shaun’s office is 100% powered (electricity, air conditioning and some of the heat) by renewable energy.
Read about the Health and Business Benefits of Humor
Virtual Comedy Shows Using Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, GotoMeeting, et. al.
| (It would be odd to write this in anything but the first person) I have developed an expertise in delivering stand-up comedy virtually over the web. In my almost two decades as a comedian I’ve learned that every new medium requires different skills for performing stand-up comedy. Using the internet demands the ability to make people laugh while sitting still and not getting the same level of feedback as with a live, in-person audience. At the same time it’s a more intimate setting since the audience’s faces are only a foot from my eyes, and mine from theirs. That intimacy is a benefit as the audience feels more connected to the comedian. I frequently do post-show Q&A from the stage in live shows and the audiences love it- it’s like a backstage pass to a comedy show. With virtual shows it’s even more exciting. They feel so connected to the comedian that they’re more curious, more open and more thrilled to get their questions answered. And I like the Q&A, live or virtually, for a number of reasons. I learn what audiences are curious about. It gives me the opportunity to demonstrate being spontaneously funny. I have some stories that are fun and funny but not quite stand-up comedy, but which work great for Q&A. And it endears me to the audience- they feel like they’ve gotten to know me better and want me to come back- which of course is great for business. Whether using Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, GotoMeeting or other applications, doing shows virtually took some getting used to. It’s not just the comedian who needs to hear laughter. The audience also needs to hear other people laughing. That’s why TV sitcoms have laugh tracks. Research has shown that people are more comfortable laughing when they hear other people laughing. Comedy clubs benefit from low ceilings as the laughter echoes. With virtual shows you don’t get the same level of laughter. More importantly the time delay makes it more complicated. I learned to pause. Pause. Really pause. To wait for the laughter I know will come. Actually it’s already there, but it doesn’t come through the web for maybe a half-second to a second. And then when one or two people laugh, others hear them laughing and they start to laugh too. The laughter spreads. The same thing happens in a live, in-person show, just with a much, much shorter delay. A great benefit of a virtual show is cost-saving. When you hire a comedian you’re not just paying for a half-hour or so of comedy. You’re paying for all the travel time- Even if you’re only thirty miles away I have to allow time to get there, to check the set-up, to meet people… With a virtual show you’re just paying for me to sit down and talk. I can do several virtual shows a day, which saves your corporation or charity a lot of money. |
 Shaun Eli did an amazing job performing virtually for our department. He had us laughing from the start, engaging with the audience and kept us laughing the whole time. And after he finished he told us stories from his career and answered our questions, without ever stopping being entertaining. I imagine it’s not easy to make a small audience of only a dozen people laugh on a screen but he was wonderful!Mike Savage Managing Director Charles Schwab  “Shaun, Many thanks again! The team really enjoyed your performance and deeply appreciated the additional time you spent sharing your personal story and perspective. Wishing you only success” Jeremy Sohn VP, Global Head of Digital BD&L, Partnerships, & Innovation Novartis  Shaun: I want to thank you again for the wonderful set and for the post-performance Q&A session that you did for the FJMC virtual International Convention. We had a huge challenge when we decided to go with a virtual convention in how we were going to deliver entertainment to our 600 attendees. You made that process extremely easy. Your virtual stand-up comedy was hilarious and our members really loved hearing about your process and how the world of comedy works. All of your work made the event a huge success. The feedback we received from our members was all so positive and made the entertainment portion of the convention a huge hit. I look forward to getting a chance to work with you again in the future – whether it be virtual or in-person.” Douglas Segerman Programming Chair 2021 FJMC International Convention |
“Thank you so much Shaun Eli and The Ivy League of Comedy for the hilarious show you put together for our congregation.
We honestly did not know what to expect from a Zoom comedy show, and our entire congregation was thrilled beyond all expectations. Although we are in Montana, virtually all of our members are originally from the large cities on the East and West coast, and so are far from being “country bumkins” and understand quality entertainment.
When our religious leader first suggested that we have a remote comedy show for our most fun of religious holidays, to be totally honest, some of us had reservations.
We couldn’t have imagined that a virtual comedy show could be this much fun. The diverse mix of comedians you arranged for us made us realize that stand-up comedy can be universal when it’s done by experts, which you all clearly are. All four of you had us laughing non-stop right from the start. There was so much feedback after the show, all amazingly super-positive (excessive adjectives), that we want you back next year, hopefully in person – we look forward to welcome you to Big Sky country!!
Sincerely,”
William “Bill” Kantor
Treasurer (2015-2021)
Glacier Jewish Community
Flathead County, Montana
“Thank you, Shaun, for a great evening performing on Zoom for our Hadassah chapter. There are a lot of comedians near me and I know I chose the right one! As promised you were clean and hilarious. Your jokes about your family, staying home during the pandemic, your former career in banking and your father’s job with the IRS were clever and hilarious, as was the post-show conversation with our members. We were all impressed with how funny and witty you were just in a casual conversation over Zoom. We hope to have you perform in-person soon!”
Marcy Eager Wolfson
Program VP
Hadassah of Oceanside, NY
I’m frequently asked how I got started in stand-up comedy.
Why does a man do anything? Because of a woman.
I was on a date and I guess I was entertaining because she asked why I wasn’t a comedian.
I said I had friends who were actors- and that while I like writing comedy I didn’t think I was made to be a performer.
She told me she’d just taken a stand-up comedy class and recommended I do the same. I went to a show put on by graduates of the class and they were funnier than I expected them to be.
So I took the class. Started performing stand-up comedy at night. Six years later I left my day job. And here I am.
Come see me; I’m sure you’ll agree I made the right decision.
And what happened to her? She got married and moved to New Jersey, so I think I won.
I’m also a gold-level (5 gallons) blood donor. (I want this on my website somewhere; I just didn’t know where else to put it…)
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