OLD SCHOOL

Over the weekend while in Philly and at brunch, talk turned to drag. Our clan was a fixed bag of a few young, mostly middle aged, and a few older fellows. The topic arose when one of the clan was discussing Plain Jane on the current season of Drag Race. Now mind you, I have nothing against Plain, but she does come across nasty, mean spirited, and a chip on her shoulder I feel. I'm not sure she knows who she is. Though she did lighten up as the season neared the end. No, I'm still no fan. I did however take assault with her comment towards Sapphira Cristal in the latest episode, about letting Sapphira do her old, you know old school.  Pretty sharp comment considering she thought she did well, and ended up in the bottom, while Sapphira placed high.  I know on the drag circuit there has always been an age old question... new drag or old drag?  There is a stigma that old school queens don't support or understand the new school. I think it is true to a point. My friend's argument was, it's time to move forward to new school. But I disagree. While new style is needed, these new queens have to find and have a schtick... and connect with an audience. Many of these new queens, even on the Drag Race that I have seen in person, just don't connect with an audience, and I have seen some of them lose the audience.  There is more to a drag show then just looks and social media. I can tell you, people not in the know about drag, were to go see, say Sapphira over Plain Jane, might enjoy both...but I can tell you... they will leave and remember being more entertained by seeing a Sapphira show over a Plain show. Even in Ptown, the staple queens like Varla, Miss Richfield, Thirsty Burlington, Dina Martina and Mamma Tits far outsell tickets to shows then when Ru girls are there. There's a reason. And it comes down to knowing your style, your crowd, your drag herstory and connecting with an audience. I have seen many a Ru girl fall flat with crowds off the show. While I do love and adore all drag queens, my heart will always go to the old school and those queens with the real staying power.

Sherry Vine

Lypsinka

Jackie Beat

Coco Peru

These queens are a true testament and the reason I myself got into drag and feel in love with it in the first place. They didn't have the luxury of a tv show to get the on the map, or managers, or social media. It was all them and on their own. Drag was also about being campy, silly, outlandish and vulgar...not about being highly polished, editorial, and try to pass as female and fishy as you can get. They had to beg and work there assess off for club gigs, which is not easy to do in a saturated area of queens take my word for it, and many are far more involved in their communities and grass roots efforts. More importantly they had style and schticks and knew how to entertain a crowd henny.  In my years doing drag I went from a crowd queen to talk and shmooze the club crowd, to drag shows and hostess, and then went into Boylesque eventually. I was always known for my sky-high hair, hair accountments, dance routines, and one never knew what I might show up in.  If you connect with the crowd, you get gigs and clubs and parties want you.  Many lip synch, have dance routines, but many also had real singing talents, insult comedy techniques and write and produce their own shows. Some, all the above. 

Charles Bush

Lady Bunny

Dina Martina

Edie

Sister Roma

 Now while I'm not siding completely with old school, I prefer an old school queen over a new school queen more times than not, because that's what I prefer, but if old school queens don't encourage change in drag, or any kind of art for that matter, then what's the point? The drag scene has to evolve, and old school queens need to accept that. Drag is performance. It's about projecting a fantasy into reality and captivating an audience with it. And if you don't have that, a queen's career is going to be short lived. I will say though I think old school queens find it much easier to connect with an audience though and its why many leave talking a week later about a show they just saw. 

Joey Arias

Peaches Christ

Hedda Lettuce

Hot Chocolate

Miss Richfield 1981

There are a handful of new school queens who I think could have a long career in drag, like Jinkxx Monsoon, Trixie Mattel, Sasha Velour, Nina West and a few others, but they have a very wide arrange of looks and repertoire in their acts. The specialty horror drag, and the goth type I think will have a shelf life. Most local drag almost always falls back on old school type drag and drag shows. I mean, how many queens these days will, or hope to have, a drag career like the legends in this post have had, and still do? My advice? The new school queens need to stop with just the crutch of social media, being just a look queen, and KNOW and connect with an audience.

Varla Jean Merman

Here's to the entertaining staying power of the Old School Queens! May all queens have long careers like these gals.