Get those dollar bills out. It is time to talk about money and the financial costs of being a drag queen. Now there may be some cheap looking drag queens, but always remember it costs money to look that cheap. In this month’s column I want to share the costs associated with doing drag regularly — from the costs of make-up to the wigs to the rhinestone, sequin outfits and costumes.
In the photo, you will see one of my favorite local drag queens, Lola Olivia Lovelace, showcasing four different looks. Lola is a queen who invests in her drag. She sews, does rhinestones and does hair. She even does her own make-up. Plus, she likes to take a lot of selfies to put on her Facebook page, so I grabbed these shots to help illustrate the costs of drag and being a local drag queen.
Hmmm… After reading this, maybe next time you will pull out those dollars to tip?
Make-Up
Not all drag queens know how to do make-up, especially the beginners. And there are different styles of creativity in make-up, like a fishy look to a more avant garde, dramatic one or even campy fun face. Make-up is not cheap. Foundation and powders cost between $9-$12 each container. Individual blush colors, contour colors and basic makeup pencils range from $8 -$13 depending on the name brand. Eyelashes and eyeliner can be $3-$5. Nails are $3-$6. A 12-piece set of makeup brushes are $25-$50.
The initial investment for a drag queen who performs regularly will likely be upwards of $150-$250 in cosmetics and supplies to just get started. Per show, I estimate that a drag queen may use $20 worth of makeup and supplies from their makeup kit on average.
Wigs
Whether it’s a lace front or not, wigs come at all price points, colors and quality. As you can see from our drag queen Lola in the photo, there are all types of wigs and styles. Lola’s wigs are professional, high quality wigs and range from $30-$60 each. If you want the wigs professionally styled, that will cost more. Many drag queens (myself included) will also have two or three wigs sewn together to make larger wigs. Multiple wigs sewn together costs more money and can go as high as another $50-$150 depending on the size of the wig and the amount of work by the stylist.
For reference, the wigs in Lolas photos are on average $50 as is. Of course, you can buy costume shop wigs for $10-$20. But good luck, these are often plastic hair and will not last long. They work well for Halloween, but not for a “professional.”
Dress/Costume
Some might say “real drag” is about one sewing and creating original costumes, dresses and outfits. However, some drag queens shop at outlet stores or Cato. I will leave that argument for another day. Either way, it costs money — some outfits more than others.
Lola can sew, so she saves a lot of money. Most of the outfits pictured will take five yards of fabric for a drag queen of Lola’s size. Five yards is a good measure for our purpose. Fabric comes in all prices, too. Sale fabric can be $2.99 a yard, which is often ugly or a heavy, non-stretch fabric. More expensive fabric, like sequin, is around $25 a yard. Four-way stretch fabric and Lycra/Spandex, a favorite among drag queens, is usually in the middle at $10-$17 a yard.
Overall, textile costs keep going up. Depending upon the outfit, other costs would include zippers, buttons, trim, shoulder pads and the list continues. Then you have to sew it or pay someone to sew it. The final outfits in the photo likely range in cost from $85-$250 in total.
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Undergarments
Yep, a drag queen has a mix of body shapers, corsets, hip pads, butt pads, bras, boobs and panty hose to create that shape. And, you don’t even really see any of this because its all under the dress or costume outfit. Not all drag queens use the same undergarments. Pricing for undergarments are different for each queen as a result. But my recent bra cost me $25, my body shaper cost $50 and my lower body pads cost $150. Plus, I have to wear at least two pairs of panty hose and those tights cost $12 each. And, while you can wash and reuse undergarments, keep in mind they do have to be replaced often, especially panty hose. Total investment for undergarments, I will estimate, is at $250 on the conservative side.
Heels
Heels or other types of women’s boots or shoes can be dangerous. There are just so many and such a difference in quality and price from $15-$150. But, luckily, a drag queen has a larger foot size typically, so your choices are more limited. Otherwise, I would be broke!
Remember if you’re a men’s size 10, then you are typically two sizes larger in women’s heels. A safe cost estimate for quality heels that won’t break for awhile is $50 in my opinion.
Accessories
Jewelry, bags, boas, whips — you name it — drag queens live to accessorize. The most common accessory is jewelry, like necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Drag queen professional jewelry is different than what you might buy at Nordstroms. It is bigger than life. Typically, clip earrings are used.
Lots of bling, but not necessarily diamond carats, is the rule. But, who knows, some of these queens may have the real thing. Either way, I would say a drag queen could buy an average necklace, bracelet, earrings and ring set for $75-$100. In the photos, Lola has minimal jewelry, so less can be more (I guess).
Music
Well, you can rip your music off YouTube these days. You can download music from iTunes and pay. You can have a DJ mix you something special and pay them. Either way, music does cost money. Plus, you need to buy CDs or a thumb drive. Cost is estimated at $3 for a Top 40 song on a CD to $50 for a professional mix on a CD.
Total Cost
Now it is time for some math. I got out my calculator. Using Lola’s photos as our comparison and her four different looks, you can safely bet that she invested $650 on the low end of the estimate, just so she can get up on stage and perform one number at your favorite bar. Yep, I even rounded down to get $650.
Money, money… well not really. Now keep in mind, a drag queen booking fee for one show is between $50-$100 in the Queen City — unless you are a “RuPaul” drag queen and you make $1,500-$3,000 for a booking fee and then $500 plus in tips. Now, some local drag queens can make $150, and granted some local queens who are national title holders can make more. But, these booking fees may shock you. Plus, a typical show booking is two or three songs. A drag queen on a good night could make $100 in tips for a show, bad night less than $30.
Let me get that calculator again and do the math. So, if Lola puts on make-up and a dress to do a show and she gets paid $75 and makes $50 in tips, the total is $125 for the one show. It would take Lola wearing the same outfit for five shows to come close to break-even. Now, granted, Lola may have done that — but I don’t blame her.
What’s my point? We are your local drag queens and we love you. If you like what you see, show us some love. Next time you go to tip your favorite drag queen, remember drag ain’t cheap — and tip Lola (and all of us) more. : :
SHOUT OUTS: Lola Lovelace sews, does hair, rhinestones and more. Hire her to do your drag. Find her on Facebook under Martin Lovelace or on her Facebook Fan Page for Lola Olivia Lovelace.
— Buff Faye calls the Queen City her home and performs to raise money so she can one day get the key to the city like on “Wizard of Oz” (and raise money for charities). Find her at your favorite bars and hot spots. Plus, don’t forget her weekly Saturday night show with Patti O’Furniture and regular Friday night party bus. Learn more at AllBuff.com. Follow on Twitter @BuffFaye.
It is customary to tip drag performers with $1 bills if you enjoy the show. Bartenders usually don't mind providing you with change (especially if you're ordering a drink) but it's easier to show up with your singles. Also, remember to hand the money to the performer instead of throwing it at them.
If you're standing or sitting front-row at a drag show, you should be prepared to tip. The best policy is to just hand the performer your tips with your arm outstretched, or toss the money onstage if they're busy.
Tipping – There is a culture of tipping performers at drag shows, some say it is a nod to the underground traditions of drag that usually meant little (to no) pay for the performance. Do tip by placing the bill loosely in an outstretched hand for the performer to grab.
How much do they earn? Now that you have the gear, you need to know where to make money and showcase your art. Income varies depending on your location but if you are able to hustle, it can be a successful career. New drag queens can earn around $50 per event they go and receive additional money through tips.
If you sit in the front row, you're in the Dollar Zone, so bring some dollars. This is non-negotiable. Drag is expensive and time-consuming, so when you bring your hot little self to the show and push your way to the front, tip appropriately.
The "Golden Rule" is a fabulous rule of thumb when it comes to visiting a drag show. Queens are humans first, performers second, and expect to be treated as such without being touched, poked, and prodded by guests of the show. "Do not touch us without consent, or pull on our costumes," Ondi stresses.
No matter if the drag event is at a club or just a daytime cafe, this simple outfit is sensible and comfortable. Dress it up with some Oxfords if you're feeling fancy, or dress it down with some white sneakers for a more casual look, for things like drag storytime.
Some drag queens may prefer to be referred to as "she" while in drag and desire to stay completely in character. Other drag performers are indifferent to which pronoun is used to refer to them. RuPaul has said, "You can call me he. You can call me she.
While "Drag Race" is being filmed in Los Angeles, the contestants are secluded, queens in season two of "All Stars" revealed in 2016. They aren't allowed to have phones, they're kept in separate hotel rooms, and sometimes production will even put tape on their doors to know if a queen has left her room.
A female queen, diva queen, or hyper queen is a drag queen who identifies as a woman. These performers are generally indistinguishable from the more common male drag queens in artistic style and techniques.
RuPaul has been able to amass an estimated $60 million according to celebrity net worth websites, the fashion icon, tv personality, and the most famous drag queen in the world has a big fortune.
How much do drag queens make? Some of the biggest stars of “Drag Race” can earn several thousands of dollars for a gig—not to mention money made from side hustles, such as modeling, makeup lines, and motels.
Cash a flamboyant twist. “A drag king is anyone who has the intention to perform some version of masculinity,” Valone explains. “That can be any gender.
Transvestite: An older term, synonymous with the more politically correct term cross-dresser, which refers to individuals who have an internal drive to wear clothing associated with a gender other than the one which they were assigned at birth.
"Mama" is usually used as a term of endearment and respect to an older, more respected queen or person. When a queen first embarks on the world of drag, she needs someone to turn to for guidance, support, and of course, makeup tips.
Drag shows frequently include lip-sync acts, live singing performances, comedy, and dancing. Some drag queens are actors who appear in theatrical productions as female or drag queen characters. Drag queens often host fun interactive activities such as drag bingo or drag karaoke.
The usual way. Some restrict liquids, many drink like fish.Others untuck, pee and retuck. Some find tucking itself a sort of natural incontinence strategy.
Over the years, many former contestants (and even winners!) have retired from their drag careers as a result of their performance on Drag Race and/or due to the response they received from fans. In other cases, they simply chose to pursue new endeavors and focus on different career paths, hobbies, and art expressions.
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 queens Robin Fierce, Aura Mayari, and Marcia Marcia Marcia can attest to production bringing back alcohol during Untucked. The spinoff series previously swapped out booze for Bubly carbonated drinks, but it wouldn't last for too long.
Drag shows are all about freedom of expression, so wear whatever makes you feel confident and fabulous. Some people opt for sequins and glitter, while others prefer a more understated look. Whatever you choose, make sure it's something that you feel comfortable in and that allows you to move around freely.
Strip clubs have plenty of $1 bills on hand. So do casinos, racetracks and other gambling establishments. ;) Seriously, one of the easiest things to do is to go to a fast food restaurant or convenience store and buy a soft drink, bottle of water or pack of chewing gum with a $20 bill.
Money really does talk, especially when many drag queens rely on tips to help offset the costs associated with drag (for hair, makeup, transportation, insurance, etc.).
Drag shows are a type of performance where men (known as a drag queen or drag artist) dress up and do a female impersonations or women (known as drag kings) dress up and impersonate men.
Artists who perform in drag are often called drag queens, drag kings, or drag performers. Drag queens perform in hyper feminine costumes — often with glittery, colorful makeup. Drag kings perform in hyper masculine costumes — often with added facial hair. A person of any gender identity can be a drag performer.
While service workers appreciate—and often rely on—tips, not everyone should get a monetary bonus. In addition to USPS drivers, many government workers aren't able to accept tips. You don't need to tip teachers, health care providers, or professionals like lawyers and accountants.
Japan. Unlike Spain, Japan is a country where you should not tip at all; it's actually offensive. In the majority of Japanese restaurants a bill is not brought to the table. Instead, payment is accepted at the bar, so even trying to leave a tip for the waiter can be tricky.
Jeans, a T-shirt, shoes and socks are the minimum clothing items that you should wear. Even in slower stock cars, shorts and bare feet are prohibited. Seat belts with a shoulder harness are obviously also required.
The term originated as British theater slang in the 19th century and was used to describe women's clothing worn by men. Today, many prominent drag artists are still people who identify as men and present themselves in exaggeratedly feminine ways as part of their performance, and are known as drag queens.
How do contestants get their costumes on RuPaul's Drag Race? Unless they are part of a specific challenge, they have brought their own from wherever they live.
Hunty is a colloquialism used amongst the drag queen community. It is equivalent to compadre or friend and is typically said with attitude at the end of a sentence. yas / yas, queen!
One suggested etymological root is 19th-century theatre slang, from the sensation of long skirts trailing on the floor. It may have been based on the term "grand rag" which was historically used for a masquerade ball. Some have suggested that drag stands for "dressed as a girl".
“If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?” Can we get an amen up in here! It's probably the most famous of all RuPaul quotes, and for good reason. It's just true.
This is a list of drag kings, sometimes known as male impersonators, drag performers, or drag artists. A drag king is a person, who dresses in masculine clothes and hides their regular features (through such things as breast binding) for special occasions, often to perform, entertain, or engage in social activism.
Drag kings are mostly female performance artists who dress in masculine drag and personify male gender stereotypes as part of an individual or group routine. A typical drag show may incorporate dancing, acting, stand-up comedy and singing, either live or lip-synching to pre-recorded tracks.
Miss Malice is a female drag queen. While women have been drag kings for decades – women performing as men – female queens are a new-ish addition to the scene, who are peeling away layers of gender identity.
RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 3 champ Krystal Versace dropped jaws with her stunning fashions and (sometimes controversial) attitude, but her real legacy lies in the fact that she made herstory as the first queen under the age of 12 to win a Drag Race title.
Now, an investigation by a Vice journalist who spoke to several former contestants estimated queens spend “anywhere from $4,000 [£2,895] on the low end to upwards of $20,000 [£14,476] on the higher end”. Drag Race season eight winner Bob the Drag Queen told Vice she “did not spend a lot of money”, in her opinion.
New drag queens can earn around $50 per event they go and receive additional money through tips. Once you are able to establish your name in the industry, you can earn up to $800 or more per night, especially if you are performing in top theaters and clubs.
Doing regular day jobs to support their drag career
No matter what type of job they have, working a regular day job helps drag queens to finance their performances and costumes, as well as paying for any makeup, hair, and beauty supplies they need.
1$ per queen per performance will make the queens interact with you the most. Or throw $15 in ones at your favorite number if you want to make a queens night :) I usually try to tip $1 per performer for each of their performances…more if the numbers are longer and/or I find them really entertaining.
The "Golden Rule" is a fabulous rule of thumb when it comes to visiting a drag show. Queens are humans first, performers second, and expect to be treated as such without being touched, poked, and prodded by guests of the show. "Do not touch us without consent, or pull on our costumes," Ondi stresses.
If you sit in the front row, you're in the Dollar Zone, so bring some dollars. This is non-negotiable. Drag is expensive and time-consuming, so when you bring your hot little self to the show and push your way to the front, tip appropriately.
Most tour guides do not expect tips, but they do appreciate them. If a guide is working through a booking service they are probably making minimum wage and tips are a huge bonus.
Even if the service is poor, it's recommended you leave at least 10 percent. * Check your tab carefully because some places add a gratuity to the bill. You may or may not want to supplement that. For the wait staff at sit-down restaurants, the tip should be 15 percent to 20 percent of the pretax bill.
A general guideline is to tip $10 minimum per mover for a half-day (four hours) of service, or $20 for a full-day (eight hours) of service. Of course, most homeowners adjust this tip based on the quality of service, relocation distance, and difficulty of the move.
Do you tip movers when they load or unload? You should tip movers when they finish their work, which typically means tipping when they unload. The same people will likely handle the loading and unloading for local moves. In that case, you could tip the movers when they unload.
It's best to tip your movers based on the time they spend on the move. A good rule of thumb is to tip between $15 and $25 per person for moves requiring up to 4 hours of time. If it takes longer to move than 4 hours, you should tip between $35 and $45 per person.
Drag shows are all about freedom of expression, so wear whatever makes you feel confident and fabulous. Some people opt for sequins and glitter, while others prefer a more understated look. Whatever you choose, make sure it's something that you feel comfortable in and that allows you to move around freely.
Introduction: My name is Barbera Armstrong, I am a lovely, delightful, cooperative, funny, enchanting, vivacious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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