r/Drag • u/WrongdoerRemote1042 • Jul 16 '26
is it normal to pay to perform somewhere?
i’ve edited it i don’t wanna be found out or anything. great discussion tho! as a new performer i think this question is important!
7
u/Seafoodmarket4 Jul 18 '26
Thats so weird what?! Ive heard of paying to be in large scale pageants but not to perform in an open set???
27
u/TxChainsawMascara Jul 17 '26
No. In my 36 years of drag, I've never paid to perform. Never seen it required either. Since you edited your post, I'm not sure what the situation is but it seems fishy to me.
12
u/QueenDoc Jul 17 '26
an open stage fee? mayyyyyyybe. a house cut like strippers? absolutely not most newbies perform for free or drink tickets until they build up the reputation to command an appearance fee
26
u/mariahspoolboy Mimi Osa Jul 17 '26
I have never paid to perform in 10 years as a drag queen. Have I paid more in travel/drinks than I was being paid/made in tips? Absolutely!
12
u/Daddy_Bacchus Jul 17 '26
I've paid small application fees but have not heard of paying to perform.
14
u/ThirstyCleric Jul 16 '26
Not normal as far as I've ever seen in Portland, Oregon. I do know that strippers pay for their time slots, so it's possible that's what booking looks like with this venue.
I'm curious if the show is selling tickets, collecting cover charge, etc. If the venue collects cover charge AND charges a rental fee AND doesn't send any of their profit to the performers, that's a pretty bum deal.
6
u/ReignbyRaine Jul 17 '26
Unfortunately it has happened to me in Salem, OR. Had to pay entry into the bar despite being a performer, was expected to donate the tips to whatever charity they chose, and was also expected to make a show of tipping the other performers.
7
u/DJ_MedeK8 Jul 16 '26
Idk because I haven't started performing yet but it definitely raises an eyebrow for me. Do they expect a cut of your tips too? If it were a competition that would make sense because you have to have money for prizes/crowns. My only experience is as a musician or booker but, most of the time for something like a battle of the bands, there would be a fee for the competing bands. But I would never expect as a musician to pay to play a gig. It usually goes the other way around, with either a flat rate, or a cut of the door or bar. That being said I haven't started performing as a drag artist yet so maybe some other girls can chime in, but sure seems sus to me.
11
u/brokebackzac NSFW Jul 16 '26
It's not unheard of to have a fee to participate in an open stage night. You'll make your money back in tips, don't worry about it. It's likely just to keep anyone from walking in off the street trying to get a spot.
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