Face Swap, Clothes Swap, New Paltz Popup Drag Show

Written by Dylan Lopez

March 3, 2018

“Tonight we are celebrating five years of Drag Shows with a Face Swap, Clothes swap. Can I hear you make some noise?” host Victoria Precise exclaims from the mic.

Lu Rodriguez, Poughkeepsie local, visits popup drag queen shows every once in a blue moon. But, this Saturday night was a lot different since the last time he’s visited these New Paltz Queens.

“I come by for the good vibes and great music, from the techno to the vogue beats, to the most recent pop charts,” Rodriguez said.

Joe’s East West Bar at the top of the hill on Main Street in New Paltz, is a new location for these local Drag Queens. Typically this bar is known for its square dancing and country nights, but tonight it was transformed by these queens.

Saturday night was more than just a high energy drag show, it was a free clothing drive for anyone in the audience who wanted to jazz up their drag looks. Heels, dresses, wigs, or anything that could be used to create the best drag transformation.

Performances included co-hosts, Victoria Precise and Valkyrie Hail along with their drag sisters Katarina Mirage and Venus.

By definition a drag queen is a man who dresses in women’s clothing as a form of entertainment. Although Rodriguez thinks it’s more than that. “It’s a way to express themselves.”

Drag to Rodriguez, “means dressing up in fun clothing and gender bending, to hit that stage and lip-sync like they’re in a real life music video.”

Local New Paltz patrons also dressed up in their high heels and fishnet stockings, added a little eye shadow and lipstick to finish off their transformations. Although these patrons weren’t performing that night their looks definitely caught the attention of the local Drag queens, who invited some of them on stage during the pre-show.

Venus a local New Paltz drag queen brought down the house with her lip sync performance of, “Bang Bang” by Nancy Sinatra. Drag to her is, “A trans-formative art, a form of expression, a performing art, and drag is just many things.”

Venus has been doing drag for four years. She drew her inspiration from, “Black women because I enjoy representing blackness and also anime, cartoons, and so many other things.”

The crowd loved her performance, as they continued to clap and cheer her on after she had already walked off stage. Seems like her fan base is increasing, it might had something to do with her being published “in Allure Magazine.”

“I was on their YouTube series for a 100 years of blondes, and I got to play Rupaul.” she proclaimed. Rupaul is a five time Emmy winner for his hit show “Rupual’s Drag Race,” where drag queens compete to be crowned drag queen royalty.

Drag shows are more than just a performance where men dress up for the entertainment of others, it’s a form of culture and self-identity. When the queens are in drag they only identify with their drag names.

These popup drag shows offer more than just an illusion, they are safe spaces for self-expression and good fun. All are welcome to come and participate in the festivities and join in on the experience of transformation.

“It’s just always a good time for laughs and good energy” said Venus.