I’m just going to say it. I want more drag shows around here.
Yes, I know Rehoboth has drag. Lots of it. We’ve got queens, kings, brunches, bingo and enough glitter floating around town that I’m sure some of it has made its way into the Atlantic by now.
But I want drag in places we aren’t used to seeing it.
I want Millsboro. Lewes. Bethany. Salisbury. Berlin. Ocean City. Georgetown. I want to open Facebook, see a drag show flyer for somewhere completely unexpected and immediately think, “Ohhhh, this could be interesting.”
There are so many restaurants, breweries, theaters, hotels and event spaces throughout our area that could do something fun with drag. And I KNOW somebody reading this is already thinking, “Nobody would come to that here.”
Have you met people?
Tell them there’s brunch and entertainment, and suddenly they have plans.
One of my favorite things at a show is figuring out who has never seen drag before. They’re easy to spot. They sit toward the back, they have no dollar bills and they’re watching everything VERY carefully.
Give them an hour.
Suddenly, they’re yelling, waving money around and taking pictures with a drag queen like they’ve been doing this their whole life.
There she is! We got her!
And we have so much talent around here that deserves more places to perform. Queens, kings, dancers, comedians, pageant girls, monsters, weirdos and people doing dips and tricks that make my knees hurt just watching them.
Meanwhile, I’m somewhere dressed like Miss Frizzle. We all contribute differently.
And if you own a business, please don’t think you need some giant, fancy setup to host drag. Do you know where drag queens get ready?
Bathrooms. Storage closets. Offices. Cars.
I have transformed myself into a woman in places where most people wouldn’t eat a sandwich. We are RESOURCEFUL.
Give us music, somewhere to change and an electrical outlet. Also, check the ceiling height. Some of these wigs have their own ZIP code.
I’m not trying to change the world over here. I just want to keep pushing this weird little drag career and see where the hell it takes me. I want to be part of the first drag show somewhere. I want to work with people I haven’t met yet. I want to perform in towns I haven’t performed in yet. I want someone to say, “We’ve never done drag here before.”
Even better. Let’s be the first.
So here’s my little cry for more drag throughout our area.
If you own a restaurant, bar, brewery, theater, event space or anything else where we could squeeze in a drag queen, reach out. If you already have a show and need another performer, hi. Hello. Conveniently, I know a girl.
And everyone else, help me out. Follow me on social media. Share my stuff. Send my information to people who book entertainment. Tag that friend who owns a place. Send this column to somebody and say, “You know what would be fun …”
I’m serious, I want to see how far we can take this.
More towns. More stages. More weird little nights where somebody walks in having absolutely no idea what they signed up for and leaves saying, “Okay, when’s the next one?”
Maybe we make a little bit of history along the way.
Or maybe I just end up dressed as Fiona from Shrek in a brewery in Millsboro.
Either way, I’m available.
