Hi all. I was hoping that maybe I could get a little advice from y'all on this whole kingin' thang. So here's the story. I have only recently really recognized my desire to do drag. In fact I only saw my first king show a few weeks ago. A friend of my grrlfriend was in the group. I shared my interest about doing drag. They said that maybe I could do a guest spot with them and if I like it, I could join them. Anyhow, I'm getting ahead of myself, which I tend to do. I have been assigned homework, for lack of better phrasing. Figure out a name and a persona. This is becoming impossible for me. I can't think of a single name that I like. How on earth does one come up with that? Then there's the whole issue of persona/music choices. I'm a bit of a shit starter and don't typically get on well with most of the dyke culture here in Tampa. I prefer to hide out in dirty little punk/new wave/goth clubs. I would really want to do something and be someone that would reflect me. (Because I really wouldn't view being in drag to be all that different from my daily life. I often identify as a boi anyway.) Friends of mine have said that I have to "play to the crowd," which means to them pop, or at least pop-palatable punk, and no none zilch industrial or goth. Which wouldn't be me. So, I put this to the group, how do I do this and remain true to me and the culture that has truly embraced me? As well as, how on earth do you come up with a name. The only ones I've gotten proposed to me are Oliver Clothesoff, Pauly Package, Shane Shannigans. These are not me.
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Re: Need some advice
Thu, February 12, 2004 - 1:12 PMwell ive struggled with this in here in kc. i dont really do poppy songs. more punk/rock/indie stuff. there's a lot of country music that goes on here as well. i say you bring the elements missing in dyke culture in yr area into yr performances. there are prbly more folks that want what to see new stuff but no ones presenting it. its a bit of a gamble. it will take a while for folks to "get" what yr doing. and it may not succeed 100% of the time. there should be room for lots of kinds of drag, but different scenes arent always gonna welcome it with open arms. i suggest inviting friends from yr other hangouts to support yr ventures into new territories. it helps to have allies in the crowd. also talk to other kings about what yr wanting to do. its good to have dialogue with them and get some level of support. i find that the other kings here in kc have been pretty supportive of some different stuff. sometimes more than the crowd;)
but be aware that if yr music is radically different and new to the crowd itll take some time for them to adjust.
as fer the name thing. if ya don't want a name with a sexual innuendo, then don't have one. most of the best king names ive heard were linked to the persona. be original with it. borrow from the scenes that you luv. you may have to explain where the name comes from to folks outside of those scenes, but thats half the fun in talkin to folks about new things. also those who are into those scenes will get where yr coming from.
i dont know if that all makes sense. but i guess the best advice i can give is to think about why ya wanna do drag and then go about making that happen. it may different than what other folks are doing but theres room for lots of types of performances. even poppy performances fail from time to time. its about connecting with yrself, yr communities and yr audience. its lots of different things to different people. unique is not bad, but it may be a little confusing at first......
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Re: Need some advice
Sat, February 14, 2004 - 7:41 PMso i got another chance to go to a drag show this past thursday. and i feel like i'm getting more ideas the more i see. they offered me a slot in their next show, but they are only going to be able to do two songs, as they are opening up for some other sort of act that night. and each person is only going to get a two minute set within one of the songs. i think i am going to decline. i would hate to step on the toes of a troupe that has worked so hard and this is their first "big" oppurtunity in this area. anyhow, i figure this gives me more time to play with my ideas and thoughts and get more comfortable with the idea of performing (super shy).
so enough about that. i think i've firgured out a persona, a style of music, and even some songs that would be palatable to the masses as well as palatable to me. they are still punk, but a little more on the poppy side, with enough dork thrown in that it will truly be me.
i still have noooooo idea what my name is going to be. i really don't want anything sexual. the name eddie keeps popping up, but i really can't think of a second name, and i'm not sure if that's it.
plus, i've spoken to a lot of my friends and even coworkers that are very supportive of me and are always wanting something new in the tampa scene. so far i have a good 15 people that will come out, which means i may only be entertaining them, but who knows?
i'm feeling less tentative.
i appreciate the advice and will continue to post on how it goes. although, the next show (that i am not going to be in) isn't until april 24th. so it could be a while.
i would really like to hear others' stories on what sort of things you've done, what sort of obstacles you've come across, any resources that you know of would be great. -
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Re: Need some advice
Fri, February 27, 2004 - 5:02 PMEddie Bell
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Eddie Bell _____ (fill in the blank with something that is usually not edible but sometimes is, like "Underwear")
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