Glitter Ball

How to Do Drag Your gender matters but should not limit you.

Know your audience; if possible, see shows at the venue before you perform there.

Know that your audience wants to be entertained.

Know that you don't necessarily have to give your audience or anyone what they want.

Know that your audience makes assumptions about you, your gender presentation, and the gender you were assigned at birth.

Your gender is not what this is about.

Remember that this is a character, it's gender play but not necessarily about your gender.

Know what you want to do before you decide how you want to look.

Get friends to help you.

If you don't have friends, make some.

Watch online tutorials.

Remember eyebrows are sisters, not twins.

Go to makeup counters in department stores and try their products.

Keep the receipts—they often convince you to buy more than you need or will ever use.

Know that your skin tone matters—not just for finding the right shade of foundation but also for finding the right tone for your act.

Do NOT do blackface ..

unless ...

No, just don't do it.

Remember makeup doesn't make your drag work, clothes don't make your drag work— your attitude and intentions are what make it work.

Aesthetic isn't everything but don't look a mess...

unless it's on purpose.

Do everything with purpose.

Be in control, even if you plan to make it look like chaos.

Read the room.

Be shady but not bitchy.

Don't punch or kick downward at groups in society with less power or privilege than you.

Tuck it away, if you want to.

Stuff your trousers with a sock, if you want to.

Wear a chest plate to give you pecs and abs or boobs, if you want to.

Pad hips and bum, if you want to.

Cinch your waist, if you want to.

Shave or add hair, if you want to.

Make none of the above adjustments if you don't want to.

Know why you want to do this.

If you don't know why, why the hell are you doing this? Really, why the hell are you doing this? Ask yourself the night before, Why the hell am I doing this? Ask yourself the morning of, Why the hell am I doing this? Ask yourself the whole day leading up to your first performance, Why the hell am I doing this? Ask yourself the evening of, Why the hell am I doing this? If you don't come up with an answer, what's the worst that could happen? A wardrobe malfunction? A tech disaster with your music or lighting cues? (Who do you think you are having music and lighting cues?) You could fall off the stage.

You could literally piss or shit yourself if you can't get out of your costume quickly enough when you need the toilet.

When it's time to go onstage, know that you're not ready but this is not about being ready, it's not even about being fierce or fearless, it's about being free.

I don't have a clue what I'm doing but that's not gonna stop me.