RENT-A-NERD
Who we are
It all started the Halloween of 1986 when Mike MacDonald, working as a scientific programmer, developed a charming nerdy character named Hornby K. Fletcher. Six weeks later MacDonald lost his job in a major corporate down-sizing. Armed with nerd-qualifying degrees in mathematics and physics, MacDonald drew upon his Halloween spoof and naturally quick wit to create Rent-A-Nerd, Inc.

Located in a Chicago, Illinois suburb, Rent-A-Nerd has grown from a one-nerd operation in 1987 to a gaggle of geeks, today featuring over ten Nerds and Nerdettes. Hornby K. Fletcher has since performed more than 1000 comedy performances in 20 states. Satisfied customers book approximately 800 comedy performances each year.

Hornby K. Fletcher and Rent-A-Nerd have been the feature of dozens of publications including People & Success Magazine. The Wall Street Journal wrote of Hornby's performance on CBS Morning Program, "It was absolutely side-splitting humor, really; it was all I could do to keep from rolling around on the floor." Hornby has performed on five national television shows including Donahue and PM Magazine and has drawn media attention from as far away as Canada, Australia, and Great Britain.

The Rent-A-Nerd custom comedy concept can be applied to every kind of event ranging from birthdays and bachelorette parties to company picnics and national sales meetings. It is the versatility of our concept that enables us to perform at any imaginable event.

The Rent-A-Nerd custom comedy concept begins with an initial interview to learn about your event and/or the guest of honor. Our knowledgeable representative will ask you several questions and use your answers to help him determine the best possible entertainment scenarios for your event. We offer many wonderful ideas with more being invented all the time.

The hallmark of a Rent-A-Nerd performance is its customization. Information learned about the guest of honor, company, or event is worked into the show. When you order a customized performance, you receive a questionnaire. The entertainer assigned to the event then calls you and arranges a telephone interview, at which time the personalized information is discussed. For private parties, customized information takes the form of funny stories, embarrassing moments, nicknames, and the tattoo on her butt. For companies, we get background information on products and services, the industry, the competition, trends, problems, and fun information about customers and employees.

If you’d like to learn more about what Rent-A-Nerd can do for your next occasion, please call us at 630-852-8400. If you’re planning a private party, try our easy-to-use nerdy event planner. This helpful planner will give you ideas about how we might approach an event like yours. Calling us, though, will allow us to more accurately assess your specific situation.

If you’re planning a corporate event, there’s no substitute for good old-fashioned brainstorming. Give us a call. We’ll interview you and come up with fun and creative ideas, right on the spot! We’ll offer you performances that will meet your goals and be customized to your particular event and your company.