Bonkerz Comedy Productions

What Bonkerz Comedy Productions does

Bonkerz Comedy Productions is a privately held comedy entertainment company founded in 1984 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Joe Sanfelippo, John Sanfelippo, and George Maltezos. The company relocated to Orlando, Florida in 1987 and opened a second office in Las Vegas in 2009. It produces and licenses 2-act and 3-act stand-up comedy shows featuring headliners with TV and movie credits, operating across over 24 partner venues in six U.S. states (California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, West Virginia). The company's technology stack centers on a proprietary booking, scheduling, and venue coordination system, complemented by the Bonkerz Seal of Approval quality certification program for comedians and proprietary customer acquisition programs including the Hot Lead telemarketing system and Birthday Party database management. A roster of 400+ vetted comedians spans categories including Celebrity, Corporate, Christian, College, Club, and Variety (hypnotists, magicians).

Name

Bonkerz Comedy Productions

Legal name

Bonkerz Comedy Productions

Website

https://bonkerzcomedyproductions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bonkerz Comedy Productions is a family-owned comedy entertainment company founded in 1984 that licenses and produces stand-up comedy shows at 24+ partner venues including casinos, hotels, and theaters across six U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Comedy Entertainment Production

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Comedy Club & Showcase Nights (MPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stand-Up Comedy Shows (MPAGACAA), Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)

Keywords

• Live comedy production
• Comedy club licensing
• Casino entertainment booking
• Corporate comedy events
• Comedian talent booking

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from admission tickets to comedy shows at licensed venues. Prices vary by location from free to $40 per person. Some venues offer VIP seating at premium prices.
2. Venue Licensing Agreements: Bonkerz licenses its brand, provides comedy shows, and supports venue operations in exchange for agreements with casinos, hotels, theaters, and entertainment venues. The company developed a licensing agreement business model starting from the late 1980s.
3. Corporate and Private Event Bookings: Booking fees for corporate events, charity events, private parties, and special occasions. Bonkerz provides comedians for roasts, concerts, fundraisers, and themed events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bonkerz Comedy Productions produces and licenses live stand-up comedy shows at casinos, hotels, theaters, and entertainment venues across the United States. The company books a roster of 400+ vetted comedians through licensing agreements with venue operators and also books comedians for corporate events and private parties.

Product overview

Bonkerz Comedy Productions is a comedy entertainment company founded in 1984 that operates as a comedy club chain and produces live comedy shows at partner venues nationwide. The company provides a 2-act or 3-act stand-up comedy show format featuring comedians with TV and movie credits, with all headliners holding the Bonkerz Seal of Approval. The core offering includes Casino Comedy Productions for casino properties, Corporate Events for business functions, Comedy Club Venues for partner clubs, Private Parties for personal celebrations, and Bonkerz at Your Venue for external venue partnerships. The company maintains a roster of over 400 Bonkerz-approved comedians across categories including Celebrity, Club, Corporate, College, Christian, Hypnotists, Magicians, and Variety acts. Operations span over two dozen venues across six U.S. states (California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, and West Virginia).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bonkerz4Food: A related food brand operated by the company, featuring recipes and food content at bonkerz4food.com

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 to 4 times ROI every week at small venues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Station CasinoscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOngoing partnership with Las Vegas casino chain for multiple venue locations including Red Rock Resort, Santa Fe Station Casino, and Sunset Station Casino. Bonkerz provides comedy programming and brand licensing.
• Hard RockminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPast corporate client for casino chain events. Bonkerz provided comedy entertainment for Hard Rock corporate functions.
• Potawatomi Bingo and CasinocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term venue partner in Milwaukee, WI. Bonkerz comedy club helps retain guests and attract local business with outstanding comedian lineups.
• Trifecta Management and Boardwalk EntertainmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership across multiple entertainment complex locations. Bonkerz comedy programming has provided revenue solutions for 6+ years with expansion into additional locations.
• Golden GamingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partnership in Pahrump, NV and Cumberland, MD locations. Bonkerz provided entertainment consulting and comedy programming for underutilized spaces.
• Latitude 360minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMulti-state entertainment venue partnership covering Florida, Indiana, and Pennsylvania locations. Bonkerz branded company-wide for entertainment programming.
• MarriottminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPast hotel chain corporate client. Bonkerz provided comedy entertainment for Marriott corporate events.
• Showtime NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShowtime selected Bonkerz as filming location for The Showtime Comedy Club Network launches. This led to national exposure and the licensing agreement business model expansion. Segments were later picked up by Comedy Central and ran for about 10 years.
• NBC/America's Got TalentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoe Sanfelippo consults with America's Got Talent casting. Bonkerz has served as official audition site, placing over a dozen comics on the show including Grand Finalist Grandma Lee.
• NBC's Stand Up For DiversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial audition site for NBC's Stand Up For Diversity program selecting diverse talent across multiple cities annually.
• Bally's Casino TunicaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst casino location opened in Tunica, Mississippi (outside Memphis) in the late 1990s, marking Bonkerz's entry into casino entertainment market.
• Mystique CasinominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDubuque, IA casino venue. Bonkerz comedy shows have been main entertainment attraction, driving casino business.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Goodnights Comedy Club: Regional comedy club operator in North Carolina. Comparable to Bonkerz in running recurring stand-up programming with a vetted comic roster at a single high-volume venue.
• Improv Comedy Club: Multi-location stand-up comedy club chain with a national footprint and licensed venue model. Closest direct analog to Bonkerz's casino and theater licensing approach, with shared focus on celebrity headliners and touring comedian rosters.
• The Comedy Store: Historic Los Angeles comedy venue known for talent development and celebrity alumni. Comparable to Bonkerz as a comedy institution whose brand cachet and roster pipeline have produced nationally recognized performers.
• Laugh Factory: Iconic comedy club brand with multiple U.S. locations and a long history of hosting A-list headliners. Comparable to Bonkerz in producing 2-act stand-up formats with celebrity credentials and operating venue-based comedy programming.
• Punch Line Comedy Clubs: Bay Area-anchored chain of comedy clubs with multiple locations. Comparable to Bonkerz's regional multi-venue approach and emphasis on club-format stand-up shows with established headliners.
• Caroline's on Broadway: New York-based comedy venue with national brand recognition. Comparable to Bonkerz in producing high-profile stand-up shows featuring TV-touring headliners in a ticketed showcase format.
• Helium Comedy: Multi-city comedy club brand (acquired into Live Nation's comedy division). Comparable to Bonkerz as a club chain that scaled nationally, with a similar headliner-driven, multi-venue operating model.
• Zanies Comedy Nightclub: Regional comedy club chain operating multiple locations across the U.S. with a similar club-and-showcase-night format. Directly comparable in producing regular headliner-driven stand-up programming at partner and owned venues.

Broad incumbents

• Caesars Entertainment: Major U.S. casino operator that programs large-scale entertainment across its properties. Comparable as a Bonkerz potential venue partner and as a competitor for casino entertainment programming dollars, but operates gambling as its core business.
• Live Nation Entertainment: Global live entertainment conglomerate that owns comedy clubs (including Helium) and dominates live event ticketing/promotion. Overlaps with Bonkerz through the comedy club portfolio and through Ticketmaster, which Bonkerz uses for ticket distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bonkerzcomedy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BonkerzComedy
• Facebookfacebook.com/bonkerzcomedy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bonkerz-comedy-club
• Instagraminstagram.com/bonkerzcomedyclub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bonkerz Comedy Productions