Brent Butt discovered at an early age that being funny was a good way to get attention, and at 12 decided he wanted to be a stand up comedian.
"I saw my first stand up comedian at the age of 12," said Butt adding that was the deciding factor in choosing comedy as his career choice.
Kicking off the Weyburn Concert Series on Tuesday, October 15, Butt will entertain at the Weyburn Comprehensive Cafetorium.
"Jerry Seinfeld said stand up is a monologue, but it's really a dialogue, the audience speaks to you through laughter," he said.
In the early years of his stand up career, he performed in the Yuk Yuk's chain in Western Canada, before moving to Toronto in 1989. In Toronto, Butt performed in the Yuk Yuk's chain before leaving and becoming one of the most successful comedians in Canada.
"Every time I get in front of a crowd, it's different," said Butt, adding he had played an intimate crowd the night before the interview with Weyburn This Week.
"The audience creates a unique, big animal and how and what they respond to is completely different."
In preparation for a show, he says he never overly prepares. The first three minutes of his act is a proverbial size-up of the audience. And with 25 plus years of experience, Butt says he has a wealth material to choose from.
Butt said he's looking forward to doing his stand up act in Weyburn.
"I look forward to going where ever it is I'm going. It's always fun to entertain," he said.
Although Butt, a native of Tisdale, lives in Vancouver now, he travels back to Saskatchewan often to perform corporate and private business events in Regina and Saskatoon.
Butt is best known for his sitcom, Corner Gas. The show became an instant hit with unprecedented ratings and accolades including an International Emmy Award nomination and was named "Funniest Show on TV" by TV Guide readers. Corner Gas went on to become Canada's number one comedy, broadcast in over 26 countries including the US, airing for six seasons.
Butt says he hasn't been by the set of Corner Gas for a few years, but gets regular Tweets from travellers who make it a point of interest on their road trips.
"I think it's really neat what they are doing there. Because it's near the TransCanada, it makes it easy to do so."
Opening for Brent Butt is the Weyburn Comprehensive School STARS Choir. Tickets for the show are available at Superior Office Products or at the door.
