Unionising Canadian Comedy with Sandra Battaglini

In this interview we chat to the brilliant Sandra Battaglini, she is an award-winning stand-up comic who spearheaded a historic grassroots movement to unionise Canadian comedy, founding CASC(The Canadian Association of Stand-up, Sketch & Improv Comedians) and partnering with Unifor/CFU to secure essential performer benefits. Here is an overview of what we discussed:

00:00 – Introduction to Sandra Battaglini and Her Mission

02:48 – Sandra's Journey into Comedy and Activism

05:46 – The Formation of a Comedian's Association (CASC)

08:53 – Lobbying for Change in the Canadian Comedy Landscape

11:57 – The Impact of Unionization on Canadian Comedians

15:02 – Challenges and Changes in the Canadian Comedy Scene

17:50 – Personal Growth and Business Mindset in Comedy

21:00 – The Future of Comedy and Community Building

24:11 – Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Social Media and Comedy

26:50 – The State of the Canadian Comedy Industry

33:27 – The Struggles of Comedy and Unionization