Bryan David Sandberg is a comedian whose autobiographical and observational style brings sharp wit, absurd storytelling, and a touch of social commentary to the stage. Drawing inspiration from his own life as a gay Asian comic raised in a family of pastors, Bryan’s comedy offers laughs that linger with meaning. Influenced by the playful improvisation of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and the introspective humour of comics like Gina Yashere and Joe Lycett, Bryan weaves identity, honesty, and heart into every set. Whether he’s recounting awkward encounters with landlords or poking fun at Calgary’s mysterious chinooks, Bryan invites audiences to laugh, think, and see the absurd in the everyday.
How would you describe your comedy style?
My comedy style is autobiographical and observational. I like to think about stories from life and highlight the absurdity within. I also like to have a bit of social commentary in my work. I think that’s a side effect of growing up in a family of pastors. So, I like having something to say, but I will always embed it in jokes or comedy. I want people to think about what was said without feeling like they are sitting through part of a sermon.
Who are some of your influences?
I have so many! I’ll highlight a few. The cast of Whose Line is It Anyway?, while not stand up, was what drew me to comedy in the first place. So, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady – that’s who I was watching as a teenager. For stand up, I’ve always been drawn to a lot of the British comedians, like Joe Lycett and Sara Pascoe. I also take plenty of inspiration from comedians who come from diverse backgrounds, especially since I often fit inside that box, being a gay Asian comedian myself. I love Gina Yashere, Atsuko Okastuka and Ali Wong, and the way they weave their identity so well into their comedy.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
For stand up, I remember watching a lot of Brian Regan. He was great for me when I was younger and growing up religious because his stuff is always very clean. That’s just his style, rain or shine. Another important thing I learned from Brian Regan’s career is that sometimes you don’t have to have some profound topical commentary, and that’s also okay. You can just joke about whether more than one box should be called “boxes” or “boxen”, and that’s also a lot of fun.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
Gosh, I can never decide my favourite of anything, let alone for a comedian. I will say Gina Yashere, who I adore, probably has my favourite stand-up comedy album of all time with Laughing To America. So I’ll say Gina Yashere feels like a good answer for me!
What is your pre-show ritual?
I don’t know if this even counts as a ritual, but I often like to sit alone before the show and try to be as detached as possible from what’s happening. I will just camp out in a corner of the green room and be absorbed in my own universe until it’s time to pay attention again.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
Although this place is closed now, my favourite place to have performed in was The Tea House, which was this charming underground lounge downtown. It was one of my first venues ever, and it also had this really interesting shape to it because the venue was just so narrow. It felt like a lot of the audience was lined up neatly in a slanted column past the stage. If you took a step back and turned your head just slightly to the left, you could see almost everyone in the building. It was definitely a cool place to perform, just for how intimate it felt.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
My favourite bit at the moment is probably the story about the supposedly “not racist” landlord I met while trying to find a new place to live. I love that story because what happened in reality is almost exactly the same as how I tell it on stage. Every now and again, a detail needs to be fabricated to help a stage story pop, but not for the racist landlord bit. That story is straight up what happened! I felt like I was in some bizarre sitcom the whole time that conversation was happening to me, and I’m glad that audiences also see the humour in the story because it helps me feel validated after a weird experience.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
I’ll often be on YouTube exploring what different folks have to offer up on there.
Tell us a joke about your city.
When I first came to Calgary, I heard someone say that the chinooks give her headaches. Of course, not understanding much of anything, I assumed she meant that she got headaches from Chinook Centre, the mall. Now that I have lived in Calgary for 10 years, I’ve learned that you can get headaches from both.
Do you have anything to promote right now?
Baklabayan is an annual queer Filipino variety show which has been going on for a few years now in Calgary. It goes up on October 25, 2025, and I will be in that one again! It’s always been a super fun time.
Where can we follow you?
I’m not any good at the social media side of things, but I do have an Instagram account! I probably post more updates about my weekend morning walk than I do my comedy career, but you can still follow me there if you want!
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
Gosh, there are so many, but I will limit it to three names: Karla Marx, Victoria Banner, and Gabby Rose.
