HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST POLITICAL CANDIDATE. AND COMEDIAN.

With this past Tuesday marking the last advance voting day in the upcoming Toronto mayoral election and myself having realized this on Wednesday, it’s now time for me as an eligible voter to do some real research into candidates before election day on June 26.

To that end I watched a debate last night that featured the top seven candidates and alternated between relevancy and “open debate” sections that could best be described as “a toddler’s symphony orchestra”: loud, grating and impossible to get anything worthwhile out of.

I’ll also look at the “vote compass” that the?Toronto Star?has set up with?Vox Pop Labs?to help see whose candidates best represent the values I’m looking for. Though one of the statements on that compass read “capitalism as it exists today does more harm than good”, so I have a feeling the default of that vote compass isn’t exactly magnetic north.

Finally, I’ll read as much as I can about each candidate, including but not EXCLUSIVELY their own campaign materials. Because campaign materials tend to be just a bit biased.?

In short, choosing the “right” political candidate (whom, I must note here, may well be on the LEFT) is a personal choice that should be made with care and research. Because you’ll have to live with the consequences.

The same goes for choosing the right comedian for your business event (again, that comedian may be on the left. Though the best are able to entertain people on all sides) Many comedians are candidates for corporate shows. Some are big recognizable names (with corresponding big fees) that may muster up an excitement in your group from appearances on American television or, more recently, from going viral on social media. They can add some panache to a planned event. But not many of them are willing to do the work of being ‘in the moment’ at that event (not unlike political candidates whose name recognition doesn’t necessarily lead to success in the job)

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Some comedians are seasoned corporate entertainers, able to adapt to many different situations but known to only a few in the audience, or maybe none at all. They can read a room quickly and are experts at engaging a group. Though they may not have a lot of experience in the “comedy trenches”, grinding out gigs in comedy club settings for years, which can come in surprisingly handy for certain corporate groups (the most wild corporate gig I’ve performed at so far was for a large, international accounting group’s “end of tax season” party. Even Drake would have tapped out at that one.)

Then there are comedians who are less experienced “club comics” who put on their only formal wear and do their best basement comedy club acts in the bright lights of a convention centre. This might be the right choice for a fledgling company looking for a quick local pick me up and these newer comics certainly work cheaper. But it can go awry quickly for large, seasoned, international groups (that aren’t celebrating the end of tax season)

It’s up to you which comedian fits your corporate culture best. And while you may think there is NO appropriate place in your business gathering for comedy, I would argue that it might not only be “appropriate”, but also an important value-added that makes the entire event more memorable.?

Case in point:? Waterstone Human Capital ?“Most Admired Awards”, an event that I’ve been fortunate enough?to host on several occasions over the past several years and have always enjoyed. Which, I hope, has added to the enjoyment of others attending. It’s an event that gives me the opportunity to see how many different types of CEO’s and companies there are out there and what unifies successful companies and successful leaders. And by the way that thing is…ENJOYMENT. When people are enjoying themselves at work they’re more likely to work better. (I hope I haven’t just given away a high-paid high-profile motivational speaker’s secret for free.)

I’ve learned similar lessons from events with groups like? MacKay CEO Forums: CEO & Executive Peer Support , Speakers Spotlight ?and recently with? Atlantic Business Magazine ?and? LimeLight Group Inc. ?whom I had the pleasure of hosting the “Top 50 CEO awards” for again out in Halifax this year.

In short, I’ve been doing comedy and particularly corporate comedy long enough now to know that every group is unique and deserves every event to be uniquely entertaining. I’ve also learned that there are a variety of opportunities to use comedians in corporate settings, some which require keynote capabilities, some which need a nuanced emcee’s touch and some which are pure fun, often in a pub setting (which is where those aforementioned “club comics” may be perfect).?

Like an election, choosing the right comedian for your corporate event is an important choice. While choosing the wrong one may not mean years of uncomfortable regret. But it might feel like it.

There are several funny comedians out there (and I’ve had the pleasure of hiring and working with a lot of them). But there aren’t many that will customize material, put in the necessary work to get to know a group, and actually be able to deliver appropriate humour that will make an event measurably better.

Here’s hoping you find the best comedian for your next event. And that Toronto chooses the best candidate for its next mayor.