Before attending my first night club drag show in October last year, I was so excited but also clueless. I honestly had no idea what I was walking into or what to expect. So here are a few tips to help any first timers who may be feeling as lost as I was!
UK Shows:
- If you want to be close to the stage arrive just before doors but expect a long wait as shows usually start a couple of hours after door and are often (always) late.
- If you have a VIP/M&G ticket, check you're in the right place. Meet and greets are usually after the show (so don't forget to setting spray your whole existence before you leave) but every show is different.
- Meet and greet lines can also be very long and very tedious - Holy Trannity have recently started numbering wristbands so those who arrived first are at the front of the line before the show which is a great idea and was highly appreciated.
- If you don't want attention, don't stand near the front. Katya once grabbed me by the face and screamed at me, so naturally I screamed back. Queens may pull people up on stage and the front row is very much the firing zone.
- We don't tip in the UK as £1 coins are not ideal but it's common for people to exchange £20 in 20 $1 notes and tip that way.
- Don't get too drunk, I've seen people be escorted out of Meet and Greets for sloppiness before even meeting the queens they paid so much to see, it can ruin the night for you and people around you.
- Drag shows are a such positive environment so make friends! Compliment people! Be nice!
The etiquette of drag shows differs everywhere you go. As I can only comment on UK shows, I turned to the RuPaul's Drag Race Reddit for a bit of advice for those in the US and around the world.
- "If you don't plan to tip the queens, stand a couple rows back in the audience, out of arm's reach. Allow people who intend to tip to stand closer to the front. If you do tip, do so respectfully. When they reach to take your dollar, do not grab them and hold them captive. I also think it's rude to put the tip in your mouth and expect the queen to take the tip with their mouth. Same with trying to push your hand into their undergarments when you tip. Unless they hold their panties open to allow you to tip them that way, don't try it. Don't play keep away with your tips either. Just hold you tip toward the queen within arm's reach, and when they reach for it let them take it. (-dragisfun)
- Enjoy the show, don't take any jokes or reads personally, and DO NOT interrupt someone on the mic or a performance or try to steal the show because you think you're stand up comedy's next big thing--you're here to watch and enjoy a performance not hijack it. (- BequeefedUntoThee)
- Tip!!! Tip locals AND RuGirls! They're all just trying to make some money while also entertaining you. (- kristiangurl) Drag shows don't start on time. You can be there on time, and something may happen, but don't expect it to start at 10:00 if it says it starts at 10:00. (- tedsmitts)
Photograph: Brett Saari Photography
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