How to Host a Comedy Game Show for a Private Audience

Q: How do you host a comedy game show for a private audience?

To host a comedy game show for a private audience, you need 4 things: a clear format (rounds, scoring), a charismatic host, 4-8 willing players, and a 60-90 minute window. The structure carries the comedy.

The story

Hosting a comedy game show for a private audience — a team offsite, a birthday, a leadership retreat — is more accessible than most people assume. The trick is to import a working format instead of inventing one. SideHustle's Labs format — 4 to 5 per team, 4 rounds (brainstorm, pitch, score, rotate), Funny + Fundable scoring — is repeatable. Teachers and educators have independently used the free SideHustle game in their classrooms. Built by SideHustle co-founders Darby Rollins and Tomer Soran, the show is Austin-rooted from day one — it premiered at The Creek & The Cave in Austin and grew into the recurring run at Pershing Hall in Austin. For deeper context on the category, see our pillar on what a comedy game show is.

What it means

If you're hosting a private audience, don't reinvent the format — borrow a proven one. Time-box it to 60-90 minutes, run real scoring, and let the audience play. The room will remember it longer than the food, the venue, or any speech that night. For the broader category landscape, see our complete guide to comedy game shows for entrepreneurs.

Try it

• Play free at playsidehustle.com
• See us live: Sept 25 at Pershing Hall in Austin. luma.com/playsidehustle
• Email team@playsidehustle.com