Sasha Mark wants you to find community

Sasha Mark, the General Manager of Blind Tiger Comedy known for his work on APTN’s The Laughing Drum, has carved an impressive name for himself in the Vancouver comedy scene. I sat down with him to discuss his comedy career, and the importance of connection, especially during the pandemic.

What was your start in comedy?

I was resistant to starting stand up because I actually don't like comedy. If you had told me to name 10 comedians, I couldn't tell you any. Then, I watched this show called WOKE Comedy Hour in Winnipeg. It was only for BIPOC comedians run by trans Indigenous Two-Spirit and Black comedians, and that was the show that pushed me to start.

Do you like comedy now?

I do! But I pay attention more to local comedy than I do to bigger, American comedians. Because that’s what appeals to me in comedy — the intimacy. Making people laugh in a small space. I've never been the type of person to idealize popular figures, because I don't have any context for them. I love talking to the audience after a show. I love the capacity to have fun at somebody's table that I don't know and make their day, so I hopefully see them come back in the future. Mainstream comedy is kind of messed up. It all derives from cis-het white men, and that's not something I'm into.

What went into developing your comedic voice?

I got a lot of cool opportunities right away when I started stand up. One of them was APTN's The Laughing Drum. We would talk about Canadian news and give it a comedic spin from an Indigenous perspective. That helped me develop as a writer and with my point-of-view. I'm lucky to have had the opportunities to work with Tim Fontaine, who does Walking Eagle News, to learn and grow as a comedian and trying to think politically. Also, as somebody who's anxious and depressed, I'm not the person to perform constantly. I would burn myself out. Comedy, at its core, needs to be fun. I find performing a bunch of shows isn't fun, and actually stressful. If you're not having fun while you're performing, that carries on through your show, and the last thing you want is for the audience not to have fun.

How have you been able to keep yourself motivated?

Connecting with funny people. That is one of the most important things that I've always loved about being involved with comedy. It's finding your community. I'm lucky that I get to work with comedy as my day job, so I connect with funny people regularly. Improvisers are way nicer than stand up comedians in my short experience here. But I'm also in a position of power, so that makes me scarier, which for me isn't a bad thing.

How do you take time to destress?

What's been important to me, and what I'm losing from the pandemic, is how much community is important to me. It's always been helpful to have an outlet that’s physical, where I can be around people and talk. It really changes my mood and makes me feel more positive. I love to talk about things that were stressing you that week. It lifts out your stress.

What's the best piece of advice you can give?

Be kind, be funny, and be on time. Every comedian is late! I went to a party, and I was 15 minutes early. In Vancouver, you also have to show up an hour late, so it was like an hour and a half early. I hated it.

Also, comedians can lose themselves within comedy in their ego. It's important to stay connected to the things that ground you in your life so you can go through comedy and not come out and asshole. You can become so jaded, and it's your job as a comedian to not become an awful person.

Lastly, if you want to start comedy, find community. There's always been a strong community coming from comedians who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women — any intersection of marginalization. I wouldn't be doing stand up if those comedians never existed. There's very low gay male and Indigenous representation in stand up. My goal as a comedian is to leave breadcrumbs behind to make it easier for the next person. But if you're a BIPOC, if you're queer, if you're trans, if you're a female; they don't want you. You know, the cis-het white men. So good luck.

Any final words?

I don't know. I don't know what I'm saying. Take me off this Zoom.

Sasha Mark will perform September 18, 2021 at Comedy Hour - A Comedy Show That Is An Hour And A Half! at Little Mountain Gallery in Vancouver.
Tickets are available here.

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