Congratulations, you’ve finally overcome your fear of men dressed as ladies and decided to attend your first drag show.

Although men dancing around in corsets and six-inch heels might seem like a pretty basic concept, it is important to recognize that there is a certain kind of etiquette that is expected at these shows. Out of the kindness of my heart, I’ve decided to let you first-timers in on proper drag show etiquette. After all, who better to hear it from than a queen herself?

The first thing to remember is that you are not the performer. Unless a queen comes up to you and takes you on stage to use you as her dancing prop, it is not OK for you to go on stage and expect a dance party. That’s what the breaks between sets are for.  When a queen is performing her number,roach a queen on stage while she is performing, be sure you have cash in hand. Kindly show your appreciation by giving her your tip, and march yourself back into the crowd.

Speaking of tips, it is always the best policy to just hand your queens your tips. If all you are giving me is a dollar bill, and you’re making me work for it by having me pull it out of your cleavage with my teeth, you are disrupting the entire routine I had planned. And if you are going to make me work for a tip, there better be at least a five-dollar bill burrowed between your breasts. Some drag queens consider themselves glorified strippers. Not all do though, so it’s always best to take the safe route and hand over your tips nicely.

Lastly, just be supportive. In many instances, drag shows have brand new performers, making their first ever appearance as a queen. We’ve all been at the stage in our drag transformation where we have limited resources to properly pull off a flawless look. The fact of the matter is, it takes balls to be a woman for the night. It takes even more balls to get up on a stage and lip-synch a number in front of a bunch of people you don’t know. Give some positive feedback, show your appreciation and, if the performance is tip-worthy, hand her some cash.

The most important thing to remember is to have fun. Drag shows are meant to be a time to unwind, have some drinks and enjoy a show. So sit back, relax and be ready to be entertained.

dhaynie@mavs.coloradomesa.edu