When you think of the term comedian, the first thing that probably comes to mind are famous comedians such as Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams and Chris Rock. There is, however, a whole group of funny people that fall under the category of corporate comedians. Though lesser known to the general population that the average celebrity, corporate comedians are part of a thriving business.

Corporate comedians are popular because while it's admittedly hard to be funny (really, it is), it's even harder to be funny in a way that doesn't offend people. Regular comedians can usually make fun of volatile subjects because they know that people expect it and don't take them seriously. Corporate comedians, however, need to be able to tell jokes and keep people entertained without saying anything that might be construed as offensive, libelous, or otherwise inappropriate for the audience.

Take My Boss. . .Please

Some corporate comedians can get away with making fun of the head of the company they're talking to. Listening to someone joke about your boss is bound to make you laugh, especially if it paints your boss in an unflattering light. However, not all bosses appreciate this and the corporate comedian who takes this route needs to be sure he clears all of his material with the people who have hired him.

Successful corporate comedians are often people who have spent time in the corporate world themselves. Anyone who has spent time either in or around partitioned cubicles, or has spent hours in meetings that produce no results, is bound to have found something funny about it. Corporate comedians are often hired because they are able to integrate specific topics relevant to the company into their routines, in a fresh and funny way. Still others are hired to simply entertain, such as at company retreats, bonus vacations and celebratory events.