D.R.A.G. 101- Perfect Song (but how?) cont.

If you have chosen a song, play with style, take the Dramatization tips and incorporate your own spin on this material. Your personal style is the link that will bridge your song into a number and create a signature that keeps your audience growing. The last thing you want is one bored audience member, this is a business and one person will tell a friend if they liked something but five if they hated it or were offended, we are selling a product which can easily be replaced, that being said most audiences are willing to give you time to improve before they pass judgement.
Personal style is unfortunately the one aspect we are unable to teach, this is up to you, however it should come organically and you will soon find yourself moving toward a specific genre that best compliments your new found style.

D.R.A.G. 101- Who Are You?

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Let us take a trip off the beaten track, this section is not included in the mini manual but I thought it may be helpful in relation to the Stage Performance post.
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It can take years to master the art and in this industry you will find there are a few basic types of performers, meeting and understanding these types may help you find your personal style:

The Pop Princess:
Looks perfect singing the popular top forty charts and emulating the movements of the professionals. This works and does make a lot of money, however in this case dance knowledge and choreography is extremely important and one of the hardest aspects to teach, you either have it or you learn it from professionals. I recommend that if you really want to look good you spend the money and pay a choreographer to teach you the basic moves and use these to built a repertoire of pop-like moves.

The Impersonator:
Spends hours watching old footage of the greats, mimicking movements and channeling characters. These are some of the greatest drag performers taking years of keen observation and dedication to master this art. If you wish to peruse this avenue keep in mind when researching its in the tiny human flaws, a smile, a squint, the way a mouth moves on a specific word, the little nuances and not overplaying the character that make a great impersonator. (i.e. Canadian performer Craig Russell)

The Comedian:
Generally found hosting, she is naturally witty and sharp tongued; she spends hours even weeks before a show writing material. Comedy is a majority of the entertainment drag queens provide however the comedian is and able to play off the audience quickly which is what keeps her in demand. If our not a size two you’re probably funny, most of the times this isn't enough. Start by writing personal experiences, build from feedback and don't be afraid to get it wrong.

The Realistic:
Naturally beautiful, she is perfectly real looking in most cases able to pass as female with little effort. Many believe they are but little can be said about the true enigma, these can be the highest paid performers. You either have it or you don’t, you cannot fake the realistic without surgery, and even then most people can tell.

The above, an observation of degrees and talents, are by no means a cut and dry segregation, you may not fit into any of these molds, most performers are some combination of the above but there are some that are just naturally great performers and do not fit into any category. The comedian however does touch on a very important aspect of Hosting. (this will be covered in detail by clicking the "Hosting" post label if available)

D.R.A.G. 101- Stage Presence (cont)

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.

D.R.A.G. 101- Stage Presence (cont)

5) SHAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT!

Confidence in you product is probably the hardest roadblock to overcome when first starting out in the entertainment industry not just stage acting but all aspects of entertainment. Some times we do have to assume the best to proceed. If you think you are nobody it is assumed that the audience will agree, in turn if you think your performance sucked so does the audience. We are always looking to outside sources to judge our own opinions, it is human nature which is why we depend so much on journalistic editorial, and “professional” opinions. How you feel about the new spring line or blockbuster video picks is directly reflected by how other felt about he same subjects. We are no saying this is condoned but it is how you are judged as well a larger portion of an audiences opinion is how you react to them. If you get one audience member clapping and encourage the same from those around him/her soon everyone is clapping and you exit everyone assumes they enjoyed what the saw because the are clapping. Confidence is difficult but it will come in the beginning to make it in this business you must assume everyone is here, and wants to watch you.

The Most Fabulous of Random Show Highlights

Well It's finally December and as promised I am bringing to you a follow up to my show last Sunday... a little late but I was worked to near death by this weekend I was working with a slight cold and the rain does not heed the weak of health i suppose... The Random Show was a great success thanks to the help of great performers we pulled it off..
a little story: this week was to originally be an Electra Socket show and she had decided to take the week to herself and rest.. (lest we forget she is the other half of the Victoria Drag scene lol) I strategically put together a very fun and random of shows including the one and only Aliyah Ice and Toby Pierce-McCrotch only to arrive a full hour early to the face of Ms Gay herself Electra Socket in full Drag.. she had forgotten to take the week off and was not going to go home now..
well it was going to be Myself the infamous Princess of Whales Jakyllyn Hyde, Impersonator extraordinaire Aliyah Ice, Spitfire Drag brother Toby Peirce-(McCrotch) and the Straight-Shooting Trailer-Chic comedy of Electra Socket (P.S. apparently Electra loves Jagger). Thankfully we all bring different talents to our art and put them to good use pulling off one of the best shows I've been apart of in a very long time (Where are you Ryann Ginger :( )...

Here take a look at some highlights.. any questions? lol

Jakyllyn Hyde's the "Origin of Love"


Electra "Drives All Night" to find the Light


a TOUGH act to follow Toby Pierce


Aliyah Ice takes the crowd to Church


Jaky closes the show out with Taylor the Latte Boy (my tits broke that bra!)

ready or not here comes mamma

Last night was a spectacular night to be at Prism lounge, my mom even made an appearance. I preformed a flawless Ready or Not Show and even squeezed in time for a few requests.. I love performing for an attentive crowd and last night was a pure pleasure, though only a small audience you were completely in the moment with me, Thank You... For those who have never been to a READY or NOT show, (what the hell are you thinking) its a perfect combination of wit, lip sync and pure improvisation, twenty drag numbers are placed into a box, randomly through out the hour long show numbers are selected and without rehearsal I am forced to preform the song. Honestly these are my favorites, I love the interaction with the audience and everyone loves to see drag queens squirm... It has been a long time since my mom has attended my shows and it really is a sign I know we are on the right track.

In other news I am looking for new talents, I would love to put some new girls in there first real show, I have the time and dedication to make you flawless. email me for details. hyde_n_outt(at)shaw(dot)ca (i don't add email to blog posts as crawlers will send me stuff i don't need)