6) KNOW YOUR LIGHTING
A fine line must be made between drag performance and camp. It is fun to be campy when time calls for this but a true understanding of the stage and how movement appears is critical. Par Can (parabolic reflector lamp in a canister), or nightclub stage lighting, is some of the harshest lights you will encounter in performance, these lights are the reason behind numerous movement and make-up do's and don’ts we will cover in posts. It is your job, take time to understand the lighting conditions of your venue and spend some time watching how it reacts to movement and find a balance. Determine where the Par Cans are in relation to your performance most of the time you will not get complete coverage. Your performance is directly effected by how these lights read. Some larger movements of the arms or head or specific poses, tilting the head back, can be greatly amplified, appearing garish if not done in the correct lighting. Smaller demure motions, specific to “Celebrity Impersonation” may be lost completely.
In closing many drag queens lose sight of the larger picture when it comes to performance, personality. The six basic rules we covered here may just save your career. Starting out with a basic understanding of how you are perceived is pivotal in developing stage presence but we can never forget who we are. Stage presence is the art of winning over a crowd with out a word. We should be able to use the resources provided to develop a sense of perception while remaining who we are as individuals.
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