The Second City
Keynote Speaker: Icon of Comedic Performance; Pioneer of Improv; Launched Careers of Legends of Comedy Such as John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Martin Short & Tina Fey
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The Second City Biography
Taking its name from the title of A. J. Liebling's profile of Chicago in The New Yorker, The Second City opened on Dec. 16, 1959. The Second City has toured internationally with its trademark satire and wit for more than 60 years. The company operates resident theaters in Chicago, Toronto and New York City, as well as multiple touring troupes based out of its Chicago location. The Second City also maintains a presence in Hollywood, with a resident theater and training center.
The Second City has become a North American theatrical institution and has served as the starting point for many comedic actors, writers and directors working in American film, television and theater. Training centers have been established in Chicago, Toronto and Hollywood. Many first-time visitors are surprised at the theater's modest and informal atmosphere, despite its reputation. The Second City's alumni include Alan Arkin, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Robert Klein, Gilda Radner, Joan Rivers, Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Martin Short, George Wendt, Shelley Long, John Candy, Harold Ramis, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Amy Sedaris, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara and others.
An evening with The Second City's National Touring Company features a blend of classic scenes, songs and improvisations performed by a six-member ensemble, accompanied by a musical accompanist and sound and light director. A typical two-act performance includes a wide variety of material on diverse topics. The Second City has expanded its offerings to include formats such as the "Improv Keynote" and "Custom Video Production," providing corporate and organizational events with tailored humor and interactive elements.
The Second City has performed at colleges, performing arts centers, clubs, theaters, fundraisers, festivals, conventions and more. The National Touring Company has appeared at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado; The English Speaking Theatre in Vienna, Austria; The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; Mayfest in Glasgow, Scotland; and numerous universities and performing arts centers worldwide. The troupe integrates improvisation and sketch comedy with audience engagement, making each performance unique. The Second City has received multiple Emmy Awards for its television productions, including the acclaimed "SCTV."
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on The Second City and other top speakers and celebrities.
The Second City Speaking Topics
Audiences loathe the flat, cookie-cutter monologues posing as "keynote speeches." Our improve keynotes are interactive, funny experiences that encourage your audience to "think outside the box" and become more innovative in their careers. We start with a focus on innovation, the very element that has allowed The Second City to create award-winning productions on stage and television--then we combine presentation, demonstration, audience participation and entertainment elements in a perfect blend. Each keynote contains sharp, funny, hosting supported hilarious videos to reinforce the learning points.
Our customized game show, complete with an over-the-top host and competitive contestants, is a great way to convey some interesting facts and insights about your company, new products, or internal process changes. This customizable show has an open format and the Second City can even use your executives or guests to show off their knowledge on the unique details of the industry, such as "name that acronym" and "buzzword bingo."
Our talk show helps organizations transform what could be a series of podium speeches into an opportunity for your executives to connect with an audience. You get to pick the guests, and our host will tee-up their talking points with light questions and a little fun--will also include "commercial breaks" as live scenes throughout the show. These "commercials" are custom-written sketches that tee-up the topics of the day, generating hearty laughs and a great transition into discussions between our host, the guests on stage, and the audience who we involve via roving microphone (Thanks, Donahue!).
The Second City's most popular offering, custom shows are clean, one-act revues prepared and customized specifically for your company. A third of the show is made up of original scenes crafted by our writers and based on the day-to-day life of your company and business. Additionally the revue includes equal parts "best of" Second City sketches and improvisation--all carefully chosen to fit your audience. You approve all content and we work hard to make it suitable to your organization.
The Second City Videos
How do I book The Second City to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like The Second City for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for The Second City, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for The Second City or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book The Second City for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for The Second City, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire The Second City, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does The Second City speak about?
The Second City is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Communication, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Business, Actor, Creativity, Diversity & Inclusion, Ethics & Integrity, Innovation, College, Music, Celebrity, Host & Emcee and Comedian.
Where does The Second City travel from?
The Second City generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for The Second City?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like The Second City for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book The Second City for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host The Second City or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
The Second City is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Communication, Human Resources and Teamwork & Teambuilding. The estimated speaking fee range to book The Second City for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. The Second City generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Joel Zeff, Dan Thurmon and Daniel Franzese. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling The Second City for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
The Second City Speaking Topics
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Customized Corporate Comedy
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Improv Keynote.
Audiences loathe the flat, cookie-cutter monologues posing as "keynote speeches." Our improve keynotes are interactive, funny experiences that encourage your audience to "think outside the box" and become more innovative in their careers. We start with a focus on innovation, the very element that has allowed The Second City to create award-winning productions on stage and television--then we combine presentation, demonstration, audience participation and entertainment elements in a perfect blend. Each keynote contains sharp, funny, hosting supported hilarious videos to reinforce the learning points.
-
BizQuiz: The Game Show About Your Company.
Our customized game show, complete with an over-the-top host and competitive contestants, is a great way to convey some interesting facts and insights about your company, new products, or internal process changes. This customizable show has an open format and the Second City can even use your executives or guests to show off their knowledge on the unique details of the industry, such as "name that acronym" and "buzzword bingo."
-
Interactive Talk Show.
Our talk show helps organizations transform what could be a series of podium speeches into an opportunity for your executives to connect with an audience. You get to pick the guests, and our host will tee-up their talking points with light questions and a little fun--will also include "commercial breaks" as live scenes throughout the show. These "commercials" are custom-written sketches that tee-up the topics of the day, generating hearty laughs and a great transition into discussions between our host, the guests on stage, and the audience who we involve via roving microphone (Thanks, Donahue!).
-
Funny Business: The Live Customized Comedy Show.
The Second City's most popular offering, custom shows are clean, one-act revues prepared and customized specifically for your company. A third of the show is made up of original scenes crafted by our writers and based on the day-to-day life of your company and business. Additionally the revue includes equal parts "best of" Second City sketches and improvisation--all carefully chosen to fit your audience. You approve all content and we work hard to make it suitable to your organization.
VIDEO
The Second City Videos
FAQS
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How do I book The Second City to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like The Second City for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for The Second City, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for The Second City or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book The Second City for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for The Second City, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire The Second City, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does The Second City speak about?
The Second City is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Communication, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Business, Actor, Creativity, Diversity & Inclusion, Ethics & Integrity, Innovation, College, Music, Celebrity, Host & Emcee and Comedian. -
Where does The Second City travel from?
The Second City generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for The Second City?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like The Second City for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book The Second City for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host The Second City or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOK THE SECOND CITY
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
