I'm so angry that articles like this focus only on RPDR performers.
There's a giant universe of us in the drag community who have busted our asses to keep drag alive for local performers, and we've succeeded without being TV stars. Why isn't
@gaytimes
sharing our stories?
Stars from across RuPaul’s
#DragRace
franchise talked to GAY TIMES about how COVID-19 has impacted the drag industry.
For many, it's been an incredibly difficult period as they've adapted their charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent for virtual shows 💔
Wow- watching Sigourney be bullied, treated like shit, and then gaslit about it was truly depressing af. That looks like worse torture than any of the exterminations could ever be
The range of drag is wild — you can look like the most gorgeous goddess or a demented swamp creature with three rows of teeth and both are amazing examples of the art form
Just left the
#bostonprotest
— peaceful with a huge crowd, so many that most could not get close enough to hear the speakers. I didn’t see a single person do anything confrontational, but lots of folks giving water, food, and hand sanitizer ❤️
Remember when drag artists had to become full-suite video director/editor/producers, churning out a constant stream of content for barely any money, and then got zero support or recognition from any major franchise or media outlet that profits off our art?
Happy pride!
I’m so glad Running Up That Hill is trending because it gives me an excuse to share one of my fave digital drag videos — a clip from
@MadamLPurchase
from our Kate Bush Full Spin last year! Still gagged at this
I know it’s wild to watch the George Santos saga, but I hope folks understand there is nothing wrong with a drag performer as an elected official.
The problem is his hypocrisy — running as part of a political party that seeks to criminalize a community he was once part of
I will never not find it mystifying when people do their eye makeup before foundation. It’s like putting all furniture in a room and then installing the flooring AFTER.
What are you blending the outer eyes into! There’s nothing there!
Whaaaat is the appeal of all these sped-up versions of songs? It’s like listening to songs while hyperventilating through a helium-induced panic attack
I can’t believe this is finally happening, but I just had my offer accepted for a condo in Provincetown—which means I’ll officially be moving there sometime this winter (although I’ll still be in Boston often)! 🤯
The advice I’d give instead: ask to be in shows, but don’t expect a yes or think you “deserve” it. Ask for feedback *if* you are ready to accept it. Prove your craft and elevate it (and try again if you get a no)... but also recognize some producers just have bad taste
Y’all, Kate Bush has the
#1
song on US Spotify.
Outside of Xmas songs, this is apparently the first time EVER that an older song has hit
#1
.
It may re-enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the top 10. Running Up That Hill originally peaked at
#30
in 1985. Legend!
Carson Kressley came up to me at tea dance today to compliment my “local queen” shirt — and I’ll be honest, I was a little shook! That was pretty cool!
(To make it more surreal, Billy Porter was standing 5ft away at the time)
Outfit for reference (yes the shorts are see-thru):
Who could’ve guessed that breaking up from a 13 year relationship, moving to a new town, and retiring an entire identity that defined your life for 6 years — all within a few months — could possibly cause a mental and emotional tailspin 🤷🏻♂️
What is one aspect of drag that seems like it’s easy for other people but you just suck at?
For me it’s nails. They look good but they are impossible to put on, easily fall off, and I literally can’t do anything at all when they’re on. So... lots of gloves for me.
Troye does look great in drag, but it makes me hyper aware of how much easier it is to look femme af when you’re a young, skinny, smooth-faced twink with neither muscle tone nor body fat.
Meanwhile I’m like:
Sometimes I miss digital drag. I had hoped it might become something bigger that lasted beyond Covid but it really does feel like it was a temporary thing. I know a little bit persists but it’s nowhere near what it was at its peak
Some of my advice for large-cast drag show production—keep time on the mic super brief, let the performances be the focus, and respect the audience’s time by keeping things moving. No particular reason I share that today! Anyways see you at gauntlet later 😘
Randomly remembering early 2009, when I won free tickets to see Lady Gaga open for Kelly Clarkson (!) at House of Blues (!) by throwing a mini hula hoop (!) on to a cardboard cut out of a guitar (!) at a T-mobile store (!)
(!!!)
If you’re gonna tweet about the horrible transphobe at gauntlet, please make sure to also tweet at least 2x more about our winner
@anniesokae
and the rest of the incredible cast!
Don’t let hate be the headline on a night celebrating incredible talent!
Permanently jealous of drag artists who can just start putting on makeup without spending 45 minutes basically resurfacing their face. I have to make it look like a third of my Neanderthal skull has been shaved down before I can even start the real makeup
FULL SPIN IS SOLD OUT! 🤯
A year ago I had never produced a single live show, and now we are selling out a 240 person event! 😭 omg we did it
@dragqueenjp
(Kamala.gif)
I don’t think people realize how complicated it is to cast each Full Spin — not only do I have to find a great mix of performers, they all must like the same album BUT still have different enough tastes to get all songs covered. My spreadsheets look like a game of battleship
Y’all be good to
@dragqueenjp
if you want a Full Spin booking! Tips:
- be interested in performing album cuts (NOT just the big singles)
- only apply for albums you actually love (NOT every show just because you want a booking)
The shows are best when the cast loves the music!
A few things every drag performer really needs on their insta:
- HD headshots & full body pics (plz don’t crop out part of your head)
- HD video of you performing (not just shaky phone footage of you from a club)
- info on how to book you (that you actually check & respond to)
This year, I am relieved to not be spending hundreds of hours making a 20 minute video that won’t be watched to audition for a show that I know doesn’t want me
Idea: a biweekly drag makeup/look “challenge” that’s open to anyone where all the looks submitted get reposted on an insta. Would anyone be into that?
(Basically I’m trying to think of how to stay inspired)
Tickets for Full Spin on 1/25 are on sale AND every ticket now comes with a free N95 mask in black or majenta (see what I did there?) — get your tix at today!
I’ve been feeling lots of small rejections in my personal life lately so I’m going to instead celebrate that I just had my Krampus Du Hast reel hit 100k views 👀
VERY excited to be co-hosting the new "Now Serving" drag competition with
@V_Exclamation
-- and introducing our judges Throb Zombie,
@LucyStoole
, and
@mxcrimsonkitty
-- show starts April 6!
“Fight for what you know you deserve” -
@YUNGXONYX
“Someone else’s opinion is not your reality” -Terrence
Folks at Gauntlet delivering on pride wisdom tonight!
I still see lots of drag shows with nearly all-white casts. Producers, I recommend that you *start* your casting process by asking BIPOC performers (i.e., don't start by just asking your white friends)! If BIPOC folks aren't coming to you, then put in the work to find them!
These battles will need to be continuously fought for years and years to come. Folks like
@Taniel
have been spotlighting ways to enact systemic reforms. Follow him and lean on these resources when it is time to vote.
If you're intrigued by Obama's call to pay attention to local & state elections, some resources I've worked on to start!
1) all DA/sheriff elections in 2020 (see list of actual candidates linked):
2) Coverage/Q&As of some stakes:
Another Full Spin in the books and I couldn’t be prouder! We had deranged monkeys, ass eating, dance lessons, and an absolutely incredible cast and audience! 🤩
Thank you and we will be streaming a replay of the show soon!
(Pic: Majnoon)
my nephew trying to swipe through my photos on my phone
me trying to wrangle the phone back into my hands
the slow realization of my sister realizing why
ok, several folks told me they were very sad about our carly/charli full spin being the same day as a tove lo concert in Boston... so we are officially moving the date! Our new date is SEPT 5!
“Your challenge is to combine drag and politics. Please note, if you actually use your drag to make a political statement, you will be punished harshly.”
I no longer get booked for shows (been over 2 months since the last one), and I know that part of that is Covid related, but I must admit it’s a real downer given how hard I try to spread the love with booking other folks.
As I gradually move to full time living in ptown, I’ve made a lot of new friends who haven’t seen me in drag in person. Several of them didn’t even recognize me this weekend when they saw me dragged up, and I get such a kick out of that every time
My favorite thing to do after each Full Spin is to add up how much money we were able to raise for a nonprofit -- and at our last show we raised $989 to support
@TEFmass
!
All merch sales + $2/ticket + my personal tip share all go to a nonprofit after each show!
I am a nerd and this election is the only thing my brain is allowing me to focus on, so yes I will be filling out this pdf next week as if it were an adult coloring book
We're almost there! My cheatsheet of all things I'm watching has 440 items, incl. state legislatures, referenda, Congress, DAs, & more:
And now... it also has a printable PDF!
Feel free to print, share, follow, save, bookmark it!