Avenue Magazine Calgary

Who: Cory Mack
Age: 46
Experience: Has performed her own brand of “prairie sass” stand-up comedy for 20 years; starred in her own Comedy Now! special; performed at the Just for Laughs International
Comedy Festival; is a regular guest on the Unconventional Panel on CBC Radio’s Calgary Eyeopener; was nominated for two Canadian Comedy Awards in 2005.

• “A sense of humour relies on imagination, and thecleverness to find a creative solution to a common problem, and that’s attractive.”

•  “Comedy is like storytelling. It’s all based on the same elements. It’s not easy, but it sure is nice when it works.”

•  “Hook [your audience] with the premise — they feel great because they’re in on it — and then surprise them with your punchline. Then tag it and tag it and tag it. Don’t leave it alone until you exhaust the topic; you can get them laughing in waves.”

• “Mike MacDonald — he’s one of those great Canadian comedians — always says, ‘Someone else in the room has to have the same notion as you for it to make them laugh. No matter how bizarre your ideas, somebody else has to connect.’ The mind can only go back to the pump four times, they say.”

• “It’s definitely not a constant state — some comics are always ‘on,’ but I feel funny when I’m onstage and relaxed and we’re all in it together. Or when I’m hanging with friends and family and we’re tagging and topping each other’s stories.”

•  “It’s no different being a female comic. This used to be a bigger topic of conversation. Every once in a while, there’ll be an article about how women comedians are not as funny as men. I never think about it.”

• “Don’t put anything into your mouth unless you know where it came from or where it has been. In other words, don’t tell other people’s jokes.”

• “True isn’t always funny.”

• “Early on in my career, peo-ple would say, ‘Oh, tell us a joke,’ and I’d remind them, ‘If I was a gynecologist, you wouldn’t be jumping up on a table and asking for free advice.’”

• “There are certainly more stages and more places for comedy now. With the heyday of Facebook, Twitter and social networking, everybody has an opinion. That’s what comedy is: stating your opinion.”

•  “I’ve always had a day job.” Mack is a fund development communications officer for the Calgary Association of Self Help.

Cory Mack headlines at Yuk Yuk’s, Sept. 24 to 26 at the Elbow River Casino, 218 18 Ave. S.E., 403-273-6700.