Frequently Asked Questions

Our fees are quoted by phone. 503.236.8888.

How long is the show?

30-100 minutes. A vast majority are between 45-60 minutes.  It depends on your event.

Can I preview the show?

Absolutely. If you have a specific event in mind, contact us and we'll get you into a regular weekend show.

How does the show fit my group?

We learn a little about you, then our referee knows what kind of suggestion categories to use - your group makes all the suggestions, and the show tailors itself to your group. It's simple and it works every time.

Is the content suitable for business, school or church audiences?

Yes!  ComedySportz is a clean show. And still funny. We have never had a complaint regarding content at a road show.

What is "The Main Event"?

It's what you see at our regular arena shows brought to your event - two teams of 4 actletes, a referee, keyboard player and a sound person, along with our sound system. The Main Event is approximately 90-100 minutes including a halftime.

What is a "Full Court"?

The Full Court is our most popular road show - 2 teams of 3 actletes, referee and sound - and it clocks in between 50-60 minutes. It's a highly energetic competition between two teams of actletes, with the ref getting suggestions from the audience, timing games and calling fouls.

What is a "Half Court"?

The Half Court show is one team of three actletes, a referee and sound.  There's no competition between teams, (and no fan voting or points) but the ref still calls fouls and we play the games with ComedySportz energy and style.  It's a little less splashy than the Full Court, but just fine for audiences up to 100 (or more, depending on your event.) We do a lot of Half Court shows, too.  Half Courts can last between 30-50 minutes.

What is an "Exhibition"?

An exhibition may be a two, three or four player show that lasts 15-25 minutes.  Exhibitions are usually designed for special situations, such as private parties in a home, very small audiences, unusual locations or United Way kickoffs at companies. We may not offer the Exhibition shows on certain dates, in certain locations, or for certain types of functions.

Can we combine a show with a workshop?

Is ComedySportz available on the date(s) I need?

We won't know that until you call or e-mail, so please do. Sometimes, we can accommodate people with as little as a few days notice.

Does CSz travel?

Yes.  We've played from Anchorage to New Orleans and places in between. Outside of the Portland area, we do add travel charges to help offset room, board, transportation and extra player time.

Can CSz recommend a location?

Yes, we do this all the time, based on our experiences and the experiences of our clients. We do not accept payment from other vendors. We have your interests at heart.

Any recommendations?

• Seat your audience as close to us as possible. Connecting with an audience across the dance floor is possible, but difficult.
  
• Don't have entertainment during dinner. After dessert is laid down is fine, but not during dinner. It doesn't work.
• Share your agenda with us. We've done a lot of corporate, church and convention events, and we can help you avoid some scheduling mistakes. Sometimes, we can even provide support for other parts of your event.
• Don't overload your evening. Dinner and an hour or so of entertainment is enough for most events.
  

What about a show at the CSz Arena?

Sure.  Any time except our regular shows, Friday and Saturday at 8pm.

We accommodate up to 120 people theatre style, or up to 45 at dinner tables.

You can bring your own food and soft drinks to your private event, or we can arrange it for you. We can recommend some catering options. If you want beer and wine, you get to buy those from us. We carry beers and wines from Oregon.

How much space does CSz need?

We ask for 12' by 16'.  A raised stage is necessary if you have more than 100 people at the show.  We also need a 6' or 8' folding table, access to one electrical outlet, 9 chairs for a Full Court, 6 for a Half Court, and a clean, secure place for warm-ups.

Does CSz bring a sound system?

Yes, a very good one, featuring JBL and Bose speakers.  We also can put both teams on wireless. Our systems play well up to 800 people at dinner table rounds and thousands in theatre-style seating. We know the systems and our needs cold, so you don't have to worry about it. We vastly prefer using our own equipment, even if you have a system or the venue has one.

What about a camera and video screen projection system?

Typically, no.  Room lights usually work well, although there are a couple of exceptions. We can rent lights for you if you'd prefer not to deal with it.

What about that extremely cool video system at the ComedySportz Arena - does that travel?

How much time does CSz need to set up?

Usually about 20 minutes, unless we run into a challenge. We prefer to arrive about an hour before our show and set up; we tear down immediately after our show. That takes less than 10 minutes in most cases.

Some folks like us to set up several hours in advance of the show. In some cases, there is an extra charge of $150-$300 to pay our players for an extra call or "sitting around time".

How do I hold a date?

We send you our 1 page agreement. You sign it. Fax it or e-mail it to us. That's it. We don't "pencil in" dates.

What are your deposit policies?

We dislike deposits. So do you. ComedySportz gets paid on the day of the show, or earlier if it's more convenient for you. Hand us a check when we get there or call us beforehand with your credit card number.

How can I pay?

By check or credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover.

What are the "hidden fees"?

We charge flat fees - not by number of people attending - and there are only these other possible charges:

• a modest travel fee for us to play outside of the Portland Metro Area (for shows requiring overnight stays, we'll work out the hotel, air, ground travel and meal costs);
• and an early set-up fee of up to $300 if you need to us set up more than 75 minutes prior to our showtime.

Can CSz help me put together a poster, event website or put info in our conference literature?

Yes. Check out our graphics and photo resource page. It has all of our logos in web and print formats, as well as a growing number of photos you can use and some pre-fab posters. We can also hook you up with a professional designer if you need assistance creating materials.

How often does CSz do this?

Over 100 times a year at private events; about 150 "home" shows a year at our arena.

Questions we'll ask you

Have you seen the show? If so, where?

If not, we'll make arrangements for you to see a regular performance at our arena.

How did you hear about CSz?

This is important to us, and often tells us about many of your needs.

What is your Date and Location?

If you have a location, that's great! If not, we've performed in over a hundred different spaces in the Portland area. Ask us.

What time of day?

We often sign agreements with an exact time "TBD" (to be determined). Our deadline for setting a time is the Tuesday before the event. Don't sweat the exact timing yet.

What is your expected attendance?

How many people do you expect?

Who is your organization?

What does your company or group do?

What is the focus?

What is the event all about? Do you have specific goals?

What is the past event experience?

If you've had an event in the past, what worked and what didn't work for you?

To book your next show, or for more information, contact us at 503.236.8888, or e-mail portland@comedysportz.com.