Thou shalt not take thyself too seriously. No one gets access without an invitation. Let their mistakes be a lesson for us all: The queen’s stage is like Buckingham Palace. Some unlucky folks have been tossed into pools and thrown to the floor. If you don’t obey this rule, there’s no telling how a queen might respond. And, whatever you do, don’t get on stage unless invited. If your energy is not helping the performer, it’s probably harming them, so save the funny business for home. A drag show is not the time to scream your favorite karaoke song or share your Borscht Belt standup routine. While it’s important to remain active in the audience, do not try and out-perform the drag queen. Thou shalt remember who the performer is (hint: it isn’t you). The bar doesn’t operate for free, and your patronage ensures a home where drag queens can continue performing in the future.ĥ. If you see a live performance at a watering hole, be sure to show the establishment some respect by buying something.
Thou shalt purchase something at the bar. If you want to give $5 but only have $20, try breaking your bills at the bar.Ģ.
A drag queen is a performer, not a bank teller. Likewise, unless their entrance includes an awe-worthy costume reveal, let the queen take the stage and settle into their performance before offering your dough. If they’re dancing the house down or lip-syncing to an epic Nicki Minaj verse, wait until they’ve taken a breath before handing over the green goods. Avoid handing over cash while the drag artist is busy.
It might be the only money they earn for their hard work. If you like what you see, honor the performer with cash. On top of money for hair, makeup, and clothing, a drag queen spends countless hours rehearsing an act and getting into costume before audiences see the final product. According to the New York Times, gay bars in NYC pay artists around $50 to $250 per performance, but many queens work solely for tips - which is barely enough to cover drag’s hefty price tag. It’s good manners, and the amount given should be commensurate with the service provided. Tipping a drag artist during their performance is like tipping a waiter. Thou shalt tip the performers, and be considerate when tipping. Here are the 10 commandments of attending a live drag show. Like a religion, drag shows have a set of commandments devoutly followed by fans, and if you want to worship at the altar of a stage queen, you’ve got to do it properly. But before you go, it’s important to know the rules. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out. It’s an immersive event that transcends anything viewers can experience while watching a gender-flipping battle royale from their living rooms. There is no substitute for the power of a live drag performance at a gay bar. The only downside to this widespread appeal is that new drag fans aren’t experiencing the art form the way it was intended to be seen - in person. Like a gag-worthy costume reveal, drag transformed from holy queer subculture into secular sensation over the past decade and is now watched on television screens around the world.