Not many comedians are able to please audiences at comedy clubs while still being what comedians refer to as a comic's comic. Corey Forrester is a crowd favorite at The Comedy Catch in Chattanooga, Tennssee. However, you will be hard pressed to find a stand-up comedian in Eastern Tennessee that doesn't lose their shit (comic language for laughing until it is embarrassing) when they watch Corey perform. We got a chance to interview Corey via email, so check out what he has to say to KnoxComedy.com.
KnoxComedy: Do you remember the moment you first had fun on stage doing comedy?
Corey: About 8 years ago, it was my second time on stage ever (The first time was at a mexican bar and grill, it was brutal as most would imagine). It was at The Comedy Catch (now my home club) during one of their "Open mics", I put that in quotes to show sarcasm, back then there wasn't really an open mic per say, it was a band show that took place in the bar area where comedians would be thrown in randomly... The crowd never calmed, smoke filled the air... It was a nightmare for newer comics who hadn't developed their "dealing with the crowd" chops yet. Several comedians went before me and bit it pretty hard, I'll be honest, I was nervous. When it was my time to go, I hit the stage, grabbed the mic and told the crowd to, "Shut the hell up and pay attention, the band will be back on shortly" They did, and my first joke hit really hard, they were with me from the get go and I remember feeling a calm over myself, I did 8 minutes... An absolute eternity at that point, especially considering I only had 5 minutes worth of material.... All about my penis of course. The way I felt after taming that crowd after so many funny guys were unable to was the first good feeling comedy had given me... It certainly was not the last.
KnoxComedy: What is an accomplishment some might know from your time in comedy?
Corey: Comedians may know me from my time spent at the top of the very popular comedy website Rooftopcomedy.com. They featured me on their Daily 8 quite a bit and I was the first comedian featured on their "Quick Bits" section. As for right now, I am pretty well an unknown, I did just record a song with Cledus T Judd that will be on his new cd, maybe once that comes out people will know who I am!
KnoxComedy: Who are your idol comics?
Corey: George Carlin, Sam Kennison, Louis Ck, Dale Jones,Tim Wilson, Jerry Seinfeld, Big Ed Caylor, Cousin Ricky Peardon, Ron Shock, Greg Giraldo, Bill Hicks... Plenty more who influenced me, this is just the top of my head.
KnoxComedy: What is right/wrong with stand-up comedy today?
Corey: What is right about stand up comedy today is that there are all types of acts being developed... I don't like to use the word "Alternative", as Tim Wilson once said about Alternative Music "Alternative to what? Something that sounds worth a fuck?" I like to say, non traditional. Back in the day, the only guy who really hit it mainstream doing something other than "set up, punch" was Andy Kaufman... Now there are tons of those guys and I absolutely love it... It's not my style, but it is refreshing and a nice change of pace. What is wrong in my opinion, is the entitlement of a lot of young comedians (and older not funny ones). This idea that once you have put in x amount of time, you deserve to be featuring, or you deserve to be headlining.. Or you deserve this cherry gig, or this sweet spot in the line up. No one owes you anything, and I include myself... I deserve nothing simply based on the fact that I have been doing stand up for 8 years, if I deserve something, it's because the time I put in produced good material. I will admit that there were times early on when I thought I should be further along (I shouldn't have been), every comic has... But the fact is, just because you are killing at the open mic (in front of a crowd you brought) does not mean the club owner is a dick for not putting you on the main stage. Dues are different for every comic... This will never change, and we will never truly accept it.
Corey will be appearing this Thursday and Friday at 1341 Grill in Sevierville, Tennessee.
1341 Grill
1341 Dolly Parton Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
865.453.0100
This Thursday Feb 23rd marks the beginning of the first Gatlinburg Improv Festival. Improv comics from all over the country will be converging on the Smoky Mountains for this three day comedy festival.
Improv and even a clowning class will be available throughout the day during the event. Check the web site for the full event schedule.
GatlinburgImprovFest.com
Old City Comedy was revived recently by local comedian/podcaster J.C. Ratliff.
J.C. has also helped put together a very important benefit show.
January 31st is a special show for the founder of White Lightnin' Burlesque! Some of you know her as Miz Kitty. Others know her as Hellcat Harlowe. If you've been to any form of stage performance in the last few years You've heard of her. You've seen her somewhere. Maybe she inspired you to get on stage, or to at least go to a show. She's definitely entertained you.
Well recently, she was involved in an accident and after years of the benefit shows that she's performed... its time for her to get one. She's earned it. And all proceeds go to her.
Old City Comedy will be having the guys from Black Liver Society on the week of their web site launch bring you "Laughs For Laura" a benefit for Hellcat Harlowe!
Black Liver Society is a branding of the best bar comics in the south, already in multiple states and spreading like herpes in a waffle house bathroom. And now they bringing out some of the biggest names in comedy for East Tennessee to the stage for you. We are bringing the best of the dirtiest, drunkest, most entertaining comics in the south to the stage one night only to raise money for a damn good cause.
There is no open mic on this event, please don't post for stage time.
Please come support local comedy, support local burlesque, and support Hellcat!
Starring:
Your host, Dave Wright.
Special Guest Sassy Frass, award winning member of White Lightnin Burlesque!
Comedians:
The young Riley Fox
The stoner Matt Ward
The beer enthusiast Justin Koontz
The shockingly normal looking Trae Crowder
The supreme alcoholic Waylon Whiskey
The asshole JC Ratliff
Thanks to the owners of Old City Entertainment Venue for letting us do this.
The Knoxville Roasters Club will come to session officially for the first time this Sunday to roast me, the writer of this blogpost and creator of KnoxComedy.com at Preservation Pub's main floor starting promptly at 8pm. No cover to come watch them say very funny hateful things about me and the others that are roasting.
If you are interested in hiring the Knoxville Roasters Club to burn your guest of honor to the ground verbally, simply drop us a line!
Knoxville's online weirdos and social media ninjas quickly created celebrity out of local attorney Stephen A. Burroughs with a Meme page that started in mid 2011. Now Stephen is being roasted for charity on Sunday January 15th at Latitude 35 as part of the Pick and Grin Show.
For more information, visit the facebook event page
Some of you Louis C.K. brained comics and comedy fans may have never heard of Leanne Morgan (I.E. our typical readers) however, she has established herself as as household name in Eastern Tennessee selling out shows at Side Splitters and The Square Room in Knoxville.
Leanne has appeared as a finalist on Nick at Nite’s Funniest Mom and toured three years with the Southern Fried Chicks. She has appeared in comedy clubs, performing arts centers, and theatres all over the United States. She has made appearances on Best Recipe's with Paula Dean (insert Paula Dean uses butter in everything joke here) and on The View.
Leanne will be in East Tennessee with fellow "Southern Fried Chicks" tour mate Karen Mills as part of the Hen Party Stage Show.
You can get tickets to see her at the beautiful Riverside Theater (A newcomer on the East TN comedy venue scene). You can order tickets by calling (865) 970-3000.
Saturday January 14th
7pm Doors 8pm Showtime
Riverside Theater
3769 Old Knoxville Hwy
Rockford, TN 37853
Tickets are $15 in adv
Order by calling 865-970-3000
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