Sadie Moland is a fast-emerging voice in Canada’s stand-up scene, known for her sharp, self-deprecating humour and relatable storytelling. Inspired early on by her hilarious dad and later by Sarah Silverman, Sadie brings a personal, offbeat style to the stage that’s as thoughtful as it is funny.
Though still new to stand-up, she’s already making waves at venues like The Wiggle Room and Comedy Cave, delivering memorable bits like her bisexual dating joke—and the delightfully weird “pee the toilet,” which she admits is more for her own amusement than crowd approval.
How would you describe your comedy style?
Since I’ve only been doing standup for a couple of years now, I don’t know if my “comedy style” is really cemented. These days it’s a mix of storytelling/observational stuff where I typically come out as the butt of the joke.
Who are some of your influences?
My dad is my biggest comedy role model. The hardest I’ve ever laughed as a kid was listening to him riff with his siblings. I remember wishing that I could make people laugh that hard, and hoping that when I grew up, I’d be just as funny as he is; honestly, I’m still wishing/hoping I’ll reach that level someday.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
Sarah Silverman was the first real comedian I was introduced to. Before watching her show, “The Sarah Silverman Program” and then digging deeper into her work, I thought stand-up was pretty lame. The only introduction I’d had to standup before that were old reruns of festival clips of mostly men complaining about their wives. I thought Sarah was a genius by comparison – I still do.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
Since I’ve started doing standup myself and I’ve been spending so much time at shows, I’ve really developed a strong admiration for local Canadian talent. My favourite comics aren’t in LA or NY anymore, they’re in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver. A few of them are Harrison Weinreb, Jackie Pirico, Jordan Foisy, Wassim El-Mounzer, Clare Belford, Graham Clark, Arthur Simeon, Chris Locke, Courtney Gilmour, Mike Carrozza and Raquel Maestre. Some expats that I love are Mark Little, Sabrina Jalees and John Dore.
What is your pre-show ritual?
I don’t really have one. I’ll try and get to the venue early so I can relax a bit, maybe have a drink, and write. I also love chatting with the other comics before the show, joking around and getting in a goofy zone. On the rare occasion, I’ll want to find a quiet spot to pace and mumble my set, especially if I’m trying new stuff.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
As far as venues go, my favourite spot is the Wiggle Room, where I’ve performed on the Voix de Ville Variety Show (hosted by the one and only Love Doctor). It feels very Hollywood to be in that space, shoulder to shoulder with made-up burlesque dancers popping in and out of a relatively glamorous dressing room (with the vanities and the velvet curtain and all that jazz). As far as shows go, I love anything that Nazeer Khan produces. He brings in the best crowds, gets amazing footage of all the comics’ sets, and I have a blast every time he books me. You can get news about his shows by following @comedycavemtl.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
There’s one bit I do in almost every set because it always gets the biggest laugh. It’s this very short line, which is “I only date bisexual women because I can only get off if I feel like I’m taking something away from a man.” It’s not my personal favourite, so it’s kind of frustrating that I haven’t been able to write something since that gets a bigger reaction haha. One of my favourite jokes is this incredibly dumb bit that I call “pee the toilet.” The audience is never really on board for “pee the toilet,” but I always stretch out the delivery anyway. Comedians have told me that they like “pee the toilet”, but I wonder if they’re just setting me up for failure by encouraging me (you know how competitive comedy can get). I’m not proud of “pee the toilet”, but saying the phrase over and over again makes me laugh, and that’s what matters, right?
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
Going to shows and listening to podcasts. Some of the best spots in the city to discover comics are the Poly Mic, the Comedy Nest, Tuesday Night Comedy Jam at McKibbins, Grumpy’s monthly show, and the West Island Comedy Night. My favourite podcasts for discovering comics are Evil Men, Stop Podcasting Yourself, Advice by the Fireplace and – of course – the Debaters.
Tell us a joke about your city.
I did a show in Verdun recently. Verdun and I have a complicated history, so I felt the need to write a hacky roast joke about it. What’s the difference between getting an STD from a hookup and swimming at Verdun Beach? At least during the hookup, someone wasn’t yelling “GET OFF THE ROCKS!” the entire time.
Do you have anything to promote right now?
I’m doing spots all the time, so follow me and come see a show!
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
Jason Houle has been a fave since the very first time I saw him perform. I have so many of his jokes memorized now, but they never get old. Follow him @bruddahoule. I’d also like to shout out my friend ShoSho (@nosearchresultsfound); she’s not only a great comic but she is producing some incredible shows. I performed on one of her Crochet and Comedy Shows at COOP Bar Milton Park (another awesome venue), and she had that place packed with crocheting comedy fans. It was something else.
