Drag *looks* expensive, but in reality, being a drag artist is a working class gig. To find out what it’s really like to try to make it as a queer artist in one of Canada’s expensive cities, FLARE asked nine Toronto drag performers on the rise to show us what’s in their drag bags—and then we got down to real talk about their finances, from tipping culture in Canada to hustling to make rent to shopping for fake boobs.
I do door gigs and am an occasional party promotor. I was working the door a lot for a while every Friday night. Door is always great. It’s a wide range of pay, though—some people are like, ‘It’s door, here’s $50.’ Others are more like, ‘You have all my money and if I don’t pay you enough you’re just going to steal my money so here’s $100.’ It depends on the gig, but door has been a lifesaver. That was my entrance into the drag world.
For me, it’s the conveniences while being in drag that really add up. The food I have to have delivered because I can’t walk to the restaurant in drag or the Uber I take because I can’t walk around in heels at night in drag. To make everything run smoothly in drag, there’s a lot of extra money you’re throwing in every direction.
1. Boots: “These are Pleasers, they’re industry stripper shoes. They were $190—an investment piece. They’re designed to be worn for a while and you can really break them in. They’re pretty comfortable, too. And I can wear them with so, so many outfits.”