AV Equipment Checklist for a Comedy Show in SoHo

By Event Rentals NYC — a KLAV Group company. Trusted by Madison Square Garden, Webster Hall, Hot 97, and 1,000+ NYC events.

SoHo comedy rooms are intimate, acoustically tricky, and unforgiving — one feedback squeal kills the punchline. Use this checklist to lock in the right gear, the right quantity, and the right budget for a 75–200 seat comedy show.

Sound

Sound is the entire show. If the audience can't hear the joke, nothing else matters.

• Powered PA Speakers (12" or 15"): Needed every show. Quantity: 2 mains on stands. Cost: $150–$300/pair per night.
• Subwoofer (15" or 18"): Optional for pure stand-up, recommended if a DJ opens. Quantity: 1. Cost: $125–$200.
• Wireless Handheld Microphone (Shure SM58 / SLX-D): Needed every show. Quantity: 2 (1 primary + 1 backup — never run a comedy show on a single mic). Cost: $75–$150 per mic.
• Stage Monitor Wedge: Needed so the comic hears themselves over crowd laughter. Quantity: 1. Cost: $75–$125.
• Mixer (8–12 channel digital, e.g. Yamaha MG / Behringer X-Air): Needed every show. Quantity: 1. Cost: $100–$200.
• Mic Stand (round base, low-profile): Needed for the host and walk-on intros. Quantity: 1–2. Cost: $15–$25 each.
• XLR Cables, Power Distro, Gaff Tape: Needed every show. Bundled. Cost: $50–$100.

Lighting

Comedy needs a bright, even stage wash and a darker house — the comic must read every face in row one.

• LED Stage Wash Pars (warm white): Needed every show. Quantity: 4–6. Cost: $25–$40 each.
• Followspot or Pinspot: Recommended for headliner intros. Quantity: 1. Cost: $100–$200.
• Uplighting (battery LED uplights): Optional for ambient room color. Quantity: 6–10. Cost: $20–$30 each.
• Dance Floor Lighting (after-party): Only if an after-party follows. Quantity: 2 moving heads. Cost: $75–$150 each.
• Lighting Controller (DMX or app-based): Needed if more than 4 fixtures. Quantity: 1. Cost: $50–$100.

Video

Optional for pure stand-up — essential if you're recording the set or running sponsor slides.

• 4K Projector (5,000+ lumens): Needed for sponsor logos or comic intro reels. Quantity: 1. Cost: $200–$400.
• Tripod Projection Screen (8'–10'): Quantity: 1. Cost: $75–$125.
• 55"–75" TV Display on Stand: Recommended for green-room confidence monitor or lobby signage. Quantity: 1–2. Cost: $150–$250 each.
• HD Camera + Recorder (for clip reels): Optional but high-ROI for social content. Quantity: 1–2 cameras. Cost: $250–$500.

DJ / Music

A walk-in DJ sets the energy before the first comic hits the stage.

• Pioneer DDJ Controller (FLX6 or SX3): Needed for walk-in / walk-off music. Quantity: 1. Cost: $125–$200.
• CDJ Turntables + DJM Mixer: Needed only if booking a pro DJ. Quantity: 2 CDJs + 1 mixer. Cost: $400–$600.
• DJ Booth Facade (white or black): Quantity: 1. Cost: $100–$200.
• DJ Headphones: Quantity: 1. Cost: $25–$50.

Extras

The crowd-pleasers that turn a show into a shareable night.

• Photo Booth (open-air, branded backdrop): Big driver of social posts. Quantity: 1. Cost: $400–$800.
• Low-Lying Fog Machine: Recommended for headliner walk-on. Quantity: 1. Cost: $75–$150.
• Confetti Cannon (CO2-powered): Optional for big finale. Quantity: 2. Cost: $50–$100 each.
• Step-and-Repeat Banner (8'x8'): Branded press wall. Quantity: 1. Cost: $150–$300.

Rent Everything from One Trusted Source

Event Rentals NYC delivers, sets up, sound-checks, and breaks down — so you focus on the show, not the gear. SoHo same-day delivery, insured trucks, and 20+ years producing for venues like MSG, Barclays Center, and Webster Hall.

Call 646-280-9522 or visit klavgroup.com to book your Comedy Show package today.