Tips and Tricks for Getting Started in Drag

Let’s face it: the world of drag is complicated, confusing, and intimidating. Have you looked into drag and wondered if it was right for you? It can certainly seem overwhelming at first. Honestly, there’s a lot to learn.

Drag is a form of theater involving a performer who cross-dresses to play a role, comedy, and entertainment. Their performance may include singing, dancing, or acting in a time period determined by the audience. These performances are sometimes presented in nightclubs and bars.  Drag queens are a unique breed of performer. They juggle multiple personalities, create original costumes and makeup designs, and work hard to perfect their skills in front of an audience. It takes a lot of planning and hard work to become a professional drag queen, but anyone can get started with the right mindset and resources.

This article would guide those interested in becoming drag queens. It would cover the basics of drag makeup, costumes, and performance, as well as tips for finding gigs and building a following. There’s a ton of terminology and a long history behind the art form. Fortunately, I’m here to help. Whether you’re an intermediate or just starting with drag, these tips and tricks will guide you.

Finding Your Drag Name

You might have spent hours watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, and you look up to every one of those queens. But where do you begin when starting your drag queen persona? How do you find your drag name? That’s exactly what we’ll be talking about today. Finding a drag name can be an exciting and creative process. Whether you’re already performing or just getting started, choosing a drag name that fits your personality and style is an important part of being a drag queen. Here are a few steps you can follow to get started:

Consider your personality: Your drag name should reflect your personality and the character you want to portray on stage. Think about your interests, your sense of humor, and what makes you unique.

Look for inspiration: Look to your favorite celebrities, pop culture icons, or even your family members for inspiration. You can also consider using your name as a starting point and tweaking it to make it more fitting for your drag persona.

Think about the pronunciation and spelling: Your drag name should be easy to pronounce and spell, so keep that in mind as you come up with ideas.

Test out your name: Say your potential drag name out loud and see how it sounds. You can also ask friends or other drag queens for their opinions on your potential name.

Make it official: Once you’ve settled on a name, it’s time to make it official. You can start using it in your performances and on social media, and you may even want to legally change your name to reflect your drag persona.

Your First Costume

Drag queens are known for flamboyant outfits, but it’s not always easy to know where to start. Whether you’re looking for a good base or just some inspiration, I’ve got you covered. First, before you start planning your costume, it’s important to determine how much money you have to spend. This will help you decide which pieces to invest in and which you can find more inexpensively. Next, gather inspiration. Look to your favorite drag queens, celebrities, or pop culture icons for inspiration. You can also consider the theme of your performance or the character you want to portray on stage. Additionally, make a list of items you need. Once you have an idea of what you want your costume to look like, list the items you will need to create it. This may include items like wigs, shoes, makeup, and clothing.

Then it’s time to shop for items. You can find costume pieces at thrift stores, costume shops, or online. Be sure to try on any clothing items to ensure they fit properly. If you’re looking for a base, there are plenty of online shops that sell pre-made costumes. Some are designed by drag queens, while others are more generic and take inspiration from popular looks like Lady Gaga or Beyoncé.

These can be great if you want something simple and ready to go, but they tend not to be very unique and may cost more than making your costume from scratch. Once you have all the pieces, it’s time to put your costume together. This may involve sewing, gluing, or other forms of customization.  I recommend starting with some sort of base idea—a color scheme or type of fabric—and then adding details that make it unique. Accessorize! Don’t forget to add the finishing touches to your costume with accessories like jewelry, hats, or other props.

Creating a Drag Makeup Look

Creating a drag makeup look can be fun and creative, but it can also be intimidating if you’re new to it. Here are a few steps you can follow to get started. First, gather your supplies. You’ll need a few basic supplies, including foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, false eyelashes, and lip color. You may also want a few makeup brushes and sponges on hand. Start with a clean face: Make sure to start with a clean face and moisturize your skin to create a smooth base for your makeup. Apply foundation and concealer: use a foundation that matches your skin tone and blend it well to create a seamless base. Then, use concealer to cover any blemishes or dark circles.

Contour and highlight. Drag makeup often involves contouring and highlighting to create a more defined and dramatic look. Use a contouring product to create shadows on your face and a highlighting product to bring out your features. Do your eyes: apply eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara to create a bold and dramatic eye look. You may also want to use false eyelashes to add volume and length. Next, do your lips. Use lip liner and lipstick to create a bold and defined lip look. You may also want to use a lip brush to help create a precise shape. Finish with setting spray. Use a setting spray to help your makeup stay in place and last longer. Creating a drag makeup look takes practice and patience, but with a bit of trial and error, you’ll be able to create a look uniquely your own. Just have fun with it, and don’t be afraid to experiment!

Start small-scale

There is no better way to learn about how drag works than by working alongside people who have done it before and will be able to share their wisdom with you. You can find these kinds of people through social media groups or word-of-mouth recommendations from friends who’ve had good experiences working with those performers.

Next, start small-scale. You don’t need to go all out from day one! Try hosting small events at home, or even just put on a show for your friends. This will help you build confidence in your talents and give you an idea of what kind of costumes and makeup styles work best for you; then, once you have an idea of what works best, it’s time to take things up another notch.

Your First Gig and Building a Following

Starting your first gig as a drag queen can be a daunting task, but with a bit of preparation and hard work, you can build a following and make a name for yourself in the drag community. Here are a few steps you can follow to get started. Find a venue: look for local clubs, bars, or other venues where drag queens perform and try to get a gig. Second, develop your stage persona. A drag queen’s stage persona is an important part of their performance. Think about what kind of character you want to create and what your stage name will be. Next, practice your performance. Practice makes perfect, so be sure to rehearse your performance beforehand. This may involve working on your makeup, costume, and stage presence. Promote your gig. Once you have a gig lined up, it’s time to start promoting it.

Use social media to spread the word and invite friends and fans to come to see your performance. Don’t forget to engage with your audience. Building a following involves engaging with your audience and building a relationship with them. Make sure to interact with your fans on social media and thank them for their support. Just keep performing. The key to building a following as a drag queen is to keep performing. The more gigs you do, the more experience you’ll gain and the more fans you’ll attract. Starting your first gig and building a following as a drag queen takes time and dedication, but with hard work and a bit of luck, you can make your dream a reality. Just be true to yourself and have fun with it!

Conclusion

So, you want to be a drag queen? Great! Drag is one of the most creative and fun forms of self-expression, and it’s a great outlet for your creativity. No matter what you do, remember why you’re doing it: because it makes YOU happy, queens!