I attended a drag show for my first time. It was organized by the Gender Equality Resource Center (GERC), located at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. When they were running auditions a month prior to the event, I was hesitant at first with many questions. After one entertaining night of seeing my peers putting this show, a couple of those questions became clear to me:
1. How do drag queens/drag kings perform?
A drag show has segments of dancing and lip syncing while drag performers have the choice of either dressing as their opposite genders or as an entire wardrobe of a vanity style. Most of the attire consists of heavy make-up and bright colors.
2. Who are today's most famous drag performers?
RuPaul has been the most famous for making a reality show out of drag performers. Esmé Rodríguez (as pictured below as the co-emcee) has hosted shows across the country's many other colleges.
3. What are their preferred pronouns?
"They/them/their" usually works best for the show's various identities. Otherwise, the emcee could also announce each of the performer's preferred pronouns.
4. How does a performer make up their own drag name?
It can be a combination between two "firsts" of your life: First pet's name and the first street you ever lived on (For example, mine would be "Sonny Park.")
5. How does the audience display proper etiquette?
When I saw the Facebook event of the drag show, it was advised to bring singles (one-dollar bills). It made it sound like a strip joint, but you actually tip the performers for the proceeds of costumes and make-up. The audience may dance and sing along on the side, but they just can't outshine the performers.
6. How much should you tip the performers?
Based on how much I spent, I would recommend bringing at least $20 of singles.
7. What are the articles of clothing for each drag performer?
Aside from being fashionable and colorful, the clothes might depend on each skit telling a bizarre story. A drag show has the similar attire of a fashion show with sparkling dresses, tight jumpsuits, and tuxedos.
8. Would straight drag queens consider themselves to be metrosexual?
"Metrosexual" would be describing a heterosexual male taking high interest or identity of fashion. So, possibly.
9. How does one know about their own gender identity?
Since my preferred pronouns are "him/his/they/their," I'm proud to be a liberal man without obsessing masculine or feminine traits made into the cultural construct of gender. Without getting caught up in a binary culture, you equally express both kinds of traits.
10. Does every song have to be about gender roles and identities?
No. It can be a variety of romance, partying, and fantasy.
11. What has been the past stigma of drag shows?
Aside from genders being "fundamentally different between men and women," the stigma has been the performances exclusively celebrating "gay pride." It's not about a performer's sexual preferences, but the individuality regardless of sex and gender.
12. What is the main demographic of an audience?
Today, shows have been accepted into many venues from colleges and benefits in the means of diversity and fundraising.
13. Are high school students in the show taking stands against bullying and gender neutral restrooms?
Again, possibly. Drag shows continue to link their popularity for the sake of transgender discrimination awareness across many communities providing safe places.
14. How is dressing up as the opposite gender a form of self-expression?
You gain the comfortability of your body as a work of art provided by the dedicated people designing costumes and applying make-up. Or maybe you just want the Weather Girls song "It's Raining Men" out of your head.
