Drag artists are increasingly asked for events and television, but they are not paid. Three artists tell you what to do about it.
The abstract is made by artificial intelligence and checked by man.
The Finnish DRAG artists have been set up for their own program agency dealership, as artists’ enthusiasm is often used at events.
Drag artists are often asked to perform free or with a small amount of compensation, although demand has grown rapidly on television and events.
The artists hope that the drag is considered to be as important art as other performing arts and that it would be more out of the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Just aged age Jonas Kuusistowith a drag name Slaya Bit, Had got a gig of his life.
The big Helsinki festival was taking the presentation of his and his drag collective into his program in the summer of 2018. Kuusisto was in the spotlight. Here would be a significant opportunity to make drag art to the general public and gain visibility for your career.
On the day of the gig, Kuusisto and his colleagues arrived at the festival area in full, props with them. To their surprise, they found that they had to queue at the gate among the audience.
“I had to call the organizers to get in,” Kuusisto recalls.
On the spot, it turned out that there were no proper dressing rooms in the festival area or guarded stuff. Drag artists were expected to take care of their preparation in front of the festival people in front of the festival people.
After the gig, Kuusisto and his colleague met another surprise.
At the same time, the dance group performed on the stage and other regional program performers had received their reward in cash. Drag artists, on the other hand, had to settle for free admission tickets for themselves and one avec-and they had to ask for them separately.
Spruce According to his experience, his experience is no exception. Many Finnish drag artists are used to their enthusiasm and goodwill use at events.
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“The worst thing, however, is minority stress and the threat of violence that comes as you walk alone in the streets.”
Often it is about human ignorance. Drag art has not yet reached a permanent foothold in the Finnish entertainment field.
However, the art form has taken leaps forward. Events such as Helsinki Drag Battle, Helsinki International Drag Fest and Drag Me to Hel have increased Drag visibility in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
In Sweden, show groups such as After Dark have established themselves since the 1970s. Sweden has also made its own version of the popular US RuPaul’s Drag Race -a program that has been a significant factor in the rise of drag art to wider awareness.
On Finnish television, little has been seen in little, but demand has grown rapidly. Within five years, Dragal has also been seen in places where it has never been before – for example, for big festivals such as Ruisrock and Flow.
Slayya Bit aka Jonas Kuusisto hopes that one day there will be venues dedicated to Drag art in Helsinki. The opening ceremony of the Kuusisto division was celebrated at Hotel Hobo in Helsinki.
Now Finnish drag artists have received their own program office.
Founded by Kuusisto, the division of the Kuusisto facilitates the sale of Drag performers gigs, organizes workshops and trains new artists.
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“If you agree that you don’t pay anything, you give an example that you will not have to pay in the future.”
Previously, drag artists have been ordered from large program agencies, which also represent comedians and magicians. However, these offices may not have an understanding of the specific needs of Drag art, says Kuusisto.
One of the most important requirements is the dressing room. This is not always available.
“Many are able to operate in toilets or in some bar’s beer storage, but it is by no means an ideal situation.”
If there is no suitable space, artists often have to reach the scene with pre -made and dressed. Kuusisto himself says he has experienced insecurity while traveling alone to the gig in the drag outfit.
“Almost all the artists have probably heard commenting on some steads. However, the worst is the minority stress and the threat of violence that comes when walking alone in the streets.”
Havanta Salmela is accustomed to asking her to perform for free at events.
Drag-artists Anger bag, eli Havana Salmelaknow what it feels like to be the subject of screaming. He is Drag King, who plays in his art with masculinity and parodies traditional masculine features.
For example, Salmela says she has encountered homophobic shouting in public transport.
“There has also been a threat and this a couple of times,” Salmela says.
He has often survived the situations without taking contact with the shouters.
Salmela is also accustomed to asking her to perform for free at events. One time he was even asked for a fee for an event where he himself performed.
“It was pretty brutal,” Salmela recalls with a laugh.
Drag-artists Viktor in sizeeli Viktor Antinniemisays he refused to perform a few times on television because it was not offered.
“Of course it is great to get on television, but if you agree that you don’t pay anything, you will give an example that you will not have to pay,” Antinniemi says.
If the payroll is paid, it is often so small that the artist himself is negative.
“The small sum often goes to even get to the scene,” Antinniemi says, referring to travel expenses.
Viktor Kokla, or Viktor Antinniemi, has been touring since 2017.
Salmela And Antinniemi hopes that the drag is considered to be as important art as other performing arts.
According to Salmela, the drag should be brought more outside the Helsinki metropolitan area.
“I went from Tampere to Helsinki on High School myself only to see the drag,” Salmela recalls.
“Drag is fun and Drag is for everyone,” says Antinniemi.