A Steve Duffy Interview 

5 Questions for Sugar Sammy

As an outsider looking in, Sugar Sammy isn't afraid to tackle every taboo topic that no one wants to discuss at the dinner table, leaping right into the cultural divide to hit on racial, social and political themes. 

He’ll deliver his honest assessment of where the US is on the world stage, leaving the audience in passionate agreement, heated opposition, anger, joy, and a variety of perspectives and opinions. Politically incorrect? 

Maybe, but Sugar Sammy isn’t afraid to equally offend across the board. 

He’s performed over 1,900 shows in 32 countries, in English, French, and a few shows in Hindi and Punjabi. 

His groundbreaking bilingual show, You’re Gonna Rire, sold out 420 performances and 372,000 tickets, making it the best-selling debut one-man show in Quebec’s history. 

SD: When did you first realize that you could make people laugh?

SS: When I was around 11 years old and playing baseball during our summer break. I was waiting at third base to come home, and in the stands, I saw a group of girls, and I started to make them laugh. 

I loved the feeling of that. In terms of a public audience, I hosted talent shows in high school, and later in college, I started performing standup. That's when I knew I would hopefully make a career out of this.

As a kid, watching my favorite comedians and studying them during this apprenticeship really helped me. I would study their timing, pauses, and their writing. That is how I figured out how to write and perform standup.

SD: Describe your style of comedy. 

SS: That's tough. It's very unique. It's a sum of all of my influences. Growing up, I was influenced by African American and British comics. Being a visible minority myself, I can relate to African American comedians. It is who I gravitated towards growing up. Since Canada is influenced by the US and British cultures. I was able to watch and appreciate both sides. 

 SD: You like poking fun at everyone and even yourself. No one is “safe” at your shows. How do you figure out in each audience who will be the interesting people worth calling out and speaking to during the shows? 

SS: I think it usually reveals itself. You have to be a good listener, and you have to be good at observing people, but also be good at recognizing who has the emotional capability of being the right person.

I’m laughing and thinking about a recent show in Washington, DC. There were many amazing characters that were in the audience. A lot of times when I start my routine, I'll throw out a question, or I'll say something controversial and see who reacts, and then just take it from there. 

SD: What is the most rewarding aspect of being a comedian? 

SS: I think it's back to basics. It's making people laugh and feel good. It’s that release you feel in the whole room when everybody is happy and feeling the same. It’s a collective therapeutic session. Not necessarily in a psychological way, but to make people feel food and release endorphins together. It just feels fun to be able to do that. 

SD: What excites you most about coming to Boston to perform your show? 

SS: The Boston audiences are amazing. I’ve performed there once. They are the most amazing comedy-loving and comedy-savvy audiences that I have entertained. 

Some comedy greats have been from Boston, and it has such a great comedy scene that has always been fun. I believe Boston is up there with New York and London in terms of the great comedy cities in the world. As a performer, that’s always so important when it’s one of those meccas of comedy you get to perform in. I am excited and prepared for it. 

For more information about Sugar Sammy visit, https://www.sugarsammy.com/ and to purchase tickets to his August 30th or August 31st show at the City Winery Boston visit, https://citywinery.com/boston