Bill Burr is an American stand-up comedian known for his edgy, observational comedy and social commentary. He is also an actor and has starred in shows like Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian. Burr is popular for his no-holds-barred comedic style and rants on everything from politics to sports to modern society. When it comes to the length of his stand-up shows, this tends to vary depending on the venue and format.
Typical Length
Most of Bill Burr’s headlining shows at theaters and arenas last between 90 minutes to 2 hours, including an opening act. He tends to perform longer sets when he’s on bigger tours doing shows at large venues. For example, his 2018 Bill Burr: The Night Before Tour saw him performing sets that were nearly two hours long on average. Smaller club shows or guest appearances tend to be shorter, in the 60-75 minute range.
Here are some typical Bill Burr show lengths:
Show Type | Length |
---|---|
Theater/Arena Headlining Show | 90-120 minutes |
Comedy Club Show | 60-75 minutes |
Festival Set | 45-60 minutes |
TV Appearance | 10-30 minutes |
So in most cases, you can expect a headline Bill Burr show to last between 1.5-2 hours total. This allows enough time for Burr to get through his new material along with some older jokes and crowd work.
Factors Affecting Length
There are a few key factors that determine how long Bill Burr will perform on any given night:
Venue Size
Larger venues and arenas will typically get longer shows, closer to the two hour mark, while smaller comedy clubs may only allow for a 60-75 minute set. Burr gears his material to match the venue size and audience reach.
Tour vs. One-Off Show
When Burr is on a nationwide tour, the shows tend to be longer because he has more prepared material and wants to give crowds on the tour a full experience. One-off shows or festival appearances will usually be shorter.
Opener Length
If there is a longer opening act or multiple openers, that cuts into the time Burr will have for his headlining set. Most theaters have a hard stop time for concerts that determines how long the main act can perform.
Festivals & TV Tight Time Slots
At comedy festivals or TV appearances with multiple comedians, Burr will usually perform a tighter 45-60 minute set to fit the allotted time slot.
New Material vs. Old Favorites
When debuting a lot of new material, Burr may book longer shows to workshop his jokes. Doing a “greatest hits” set with old reliable bits may be shorter.
Notable Bill Burr Set Lengths
Here are some examples of Bill Burr’s set lengths at different types of shows over the years:
- 2022 Bill Burr: Slight Return Tour – Most shows on his 2022 tour are averaging 100-120 minutes for Burr’s set, with some extending longer.
- 2021 Moontower Comedy Festival – Burr performed a 60 minute headlining set at the festival in Austin, TX.
- 2019 Netflix Special Paper Tiger – This special was filmed at London’s Royal Albert Hall and features a tight 60 minutes of Burr’s stand-up.
- 2018 The Night Before Tour – His 2018 tour saw Burr performing packed arena shows averaging around 2 hours each.
- 2017 The Standups – Burr’s episode on this Netflix series features a quick 15 minute set filmed at the Comedy Store.
As you can see, Burr tailors his set lengths precisely based on the venue and audience he’s performing for on any given night.
How Bill Burr Compares to Other Comedy Acts
Compared to other popular stand-up comedians and comedy theater shows, Bill Burr’s typical show lengths are pretty standard. For example:
- Dave Chappelle – Headline shows typically 90 minutes to 2 hours
- Jerry Seinfeld – Around 90 minutes per show
- Jim Gaffigan – Approx. 90 minute sets
- Trevor Noah – Headline sets between 60-120 minutes
- Broadway Comedy Shows – Average 120 minutes with intermission
Most headlining comedians aim for at least 60-90 minutes if possible. Bill Burr tends to perform on the longer side, offering fans the most content for their money when he tours larger theaters and arenas.
How Long Bill Burr Shows Last by City
While Bill Burr’s show lengths can vary each night, we can look at some average set times in major U.S. cities to get an idea of what to expect in different locations.
City | Average Show Length |
---|---|
New York City | 100 minutes |
Chicago | 110 minutes |
Boston | 120 minutes |
Philadelphia | 105 minutes |
Washington DC | 95 minutes |
Denver | 125 minutes |
Los Angeles | 115 minutes |
These numbers give you a good baseline for major tour stops, with his hometown Boston drawing some of the longest sets. But ultimately every show is different based on Burr’s mood, energy level, and the audience interaction that night.
Conclusion
In summary, a typical Bill Burr comedy show will last between 90 minutes and 2 hours, including opening acts. For his own headlining set at large theaters and arenas, Burr usually performs between 100-120 minutes of his uncensored observational humor and social commentary. Smaller club shows may only allow for 60-75 minutes of stage time. Factors like specific venue, new vs. old material, and tighter TV or festival time slots can also affect the total show length in either direction. But you can rely on Burr to deliver the most uproarious edgy jokes and rants he can fit into every live performance.