In addition to performing 104 shows with Projectile Comedy during the past year, he did 40 stand-up comedy shows, published a monthly alternative humor newspaper, and played a couple of gigs as a session musician.
No wonder he has days when his brain feels numb. Yet Korb said busy becomes him.
"The workload is stressful, but my work is rewarding," Korb said.
Monday night, he joins stand-up touring buddy Morgan Preston, of Seattle, for a New Year's Eve comedy show and prime rib dinner at Montana Hanna's in Dean.
Korb, who grew up playing saxophone in the backup band for Calamity Jane Entertainment, is the youngest of four musical Korb children, including noted jazz vocalist Kristin Korb. But Chad Korb drifted into comedy after earning a degree from Montana State University in graphic design and he's been touring the Northwest over the last three years as a stand-up comedian.
Performing stand-up comedy in rural states like Montana is an interesting venture. Korb said you never know what kind of audience you'll draw.
On one crazy weekend earlier this year, Korb played a show in rural Nevada, coaxed into performing by the club owner's promise that Korb would headline the show. When he got there, the casino was empty and by the time Korb finished his routine, the only people in attendance were a busload of special needs people who didn't appear as though they got any of his humor. Korb was scheduled so tight that after the show, he drove all night back to Billings, picked up his buddy Dan Paul Schafer and then drove to his next gig in Glasgow.
"I got there just in time for the show. I was road numb and I got through it on nervous energy," Korb said.
A bachelor, Korb said he doesn't do social commentary because relationship humor is unfamiliar ground to him. Rather, he gravitates more toward "why we believe what we believe."
"I can't be one of those guys like Larry the Cable Guy who use gimmicks. I have to feel honest about my material, but you have to be careful not to be preachy. All the guys that I respected - Lewis Black, Bill Hicks - didn't have to sacrifice their integrity to be funny. Just because you're not filling a stadium doesn't mean you're not successful. You might be selling bandanas to toothless fairgoers, but at least you'll have your self-respect."
Published on Friday, December 28, 2007. Last modified on 12/28/2007 at 12:37 am
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