The Show Must Go On!

 Hello Damnlings!

I hope you enjoyed our Halloween show last week at Carnglaze Caverns. If you came, thank you for supporting us for the Worlds first drag show in a cave! If you didn't, well... you missed out on the Worlds first drag show in a cave!

I want to take you behind the curtain (oo er!) and share with you what it's like to simultaneously host and stage manage an event - in short, utter chaos! but of course you already know that is where I thrive!

From coordinating the performers (read: herding cats) to supporting communications between the bar, tech, security and venue teams, there is a lot going on behind the scenes while the performers are singing their hearts out for you on the stage. 

I usually have an idea of how the show ought to go in the days leading up to it (you've all seen the cue cards!) but I still have to be able to adapt and deviate from the script to match whatever is happening as the show unfolds - venue announcements, changes to running order, timings being off (you've all seen the chaos!). 

Mostly we build cues into my cues - sound and lighting know what to do based on me saying certain things, performers know what their introduction will sound like so that they can be ready to come on as I come off. But it goes the other way too - performers will need me to remember to do certain things to set up for them (bring the mic with me for them to start off stage, alter my introduction to better lead into their opening number etc.) which they will have usually told me during the previous act as a last minute nervous jitter. I always accommodate where I can, even if it means I fumble slightly to help them shine. 

Off stage, I'll either be undergoing my own costume change (fun fact: at Dia de los Muertos, my costume stages demonstrated my evolution -Evilution(?) - into La Muerte, the mexican saint of death), or I'll be supporting the other acts with their changes, or fetching them drinks or raiding my trusty "drag bag" packed with essentials and spares like a true Mother!

It's not just practicalities though - I also have to juggle managing the energy and atmosphere in the show (keeping you all in high spirits, and ideally, high in spirits!) which includes responding to the vibe you give and having a whole non-verbal chat with you all (that's a future blog post!) with also maintaining a positive, exciting and healthy atmosphere backstage so that the performers are in the right frame of mind to really enjoy their show with you. 

So Damnlings, there you have it - there's a lot more to hosting than you thought, i bet! We may not always sing or dance, but we don't put in any less effort to bring you the entertainment you deserve.

Check back next week where I'll talk you through what goes on after you've all left the show.

Until next time!

Yours if you saw the show,

Evilyn x