The art of drag, between popularity and misunderstanding

(Montreal) Barely a few months after its launch, the first Quebec agency specializing in artist management for drag queens says it already has a well-stocked contract book, without the efforts of a promotional campaign. Yet another illustration of the enthusiasm for this flamboyant universe in Quebec, which despite everything still attracts contempt.

Michel Dorion is surprised by the interest in his new agency Productions Midor, founded last April, and the dozen artists it represents. Requests for shows or animation have multiplied at high speed, he says. And the types of events and places are of all kinds: weddings, conventions, birthdays, camping, schools and Christmas parades.

“I never expected that in the first few months. It’s been crazy so far. To date, I have contracts until September next year, ”says the one who has made a career as a drag queen for thirty years.

Known for his personification of Celine Dion, Michel Dorion had been thinking for a long time about a way to support drag artists to better manage their careers and to obtain decent working conditions.

The success of his agency once again demonstrates that this art form, often associated with exaggeration and comedy, is now considered a profession in its own right, believes the businessman.

“For several artists, they can consider making a more complete work of it. Before, there was me and a few who managed to live on just that. Now, requests are exploding in shows, in events, in animation, therefore more and more contracts. Each artist can make more money and possibly make it a full-time job, ”he analyzes.

Initially confined mainly to bars and the LGBTQ+ community, the art of drag is overflowing these borders, occupying more of the cultural and media space. This growing visibility has as a turning point the television competition RuPaul’s Drag Race. Started in 2009, the American concept has made a splash elsewhere in the world, notably in Canada.

The Canadian banner propelled Quebecer Rita Baga into 2020 and crowned her colleague Gisèle Lullaby two years later. These shows combined with social networks have made it possible to broaden the audience of this environment characterized by extravagant looks.

“I think people quickly realize the diversity of this art. That these artists can be adapted for theatre, television, comedy, something more serious and for younger audiences. Everyone can find what they are looking for,” maintains Barbada de Barbades, alias Sébastien Potvin.

The activities of the character who soon celebrated his 18th birthday testify to this plurality of styles and audiences. Since 2016, Barbada has been presenting story hours for children in libraries, bookstores and daycare centers in Quebec and hosts a youth program on Tou.tv. In parallel, it also offers entertainment services for a variety of events.

Short-lived ?

The origin of drag goes back many decades, for at least a century. In Quebec, Mado Lamotte notably paved the way. She has become a standard bearer of the Quebec drag scene with her eponymous cabaret in the Gay Village in Montreal.

With 35 years of experience, the artist is witness to the evolution of this environment. Mado Lamotte made her first appearance on television in 1995 on Christiane Charette’s show on Radio-Canada. Other collaborations on TV followed, but without managing to give the momentum that the drags of the Belle Province know today.

“Because they only showed Mado,” says the character’s interpreter, Luc Provost. We did not present the art of drag with Mado and his gang. Today, RuPaul’s is a show with about 15 drag queens performing, so people see a lot of them.

“We see them in their element, we see them on stage. We know what they are doing,” he adds.

Nevertheless, performance venues remain restricted for drag queens, according to Luc Provost, unlike actors for example. And breaking into an environment where the competition becomes strong can be difficult. Beyond handling the techniques of make-up and the making of costumes, you must have other talents to your bow, such as singing or dancing.

“It is those who have strong identities and personalities and who have characters above all, who will stand out”, evokes the personifier of Mado Lamotte.

If the current craze could fade, the art of drag is definitely here to stay, say the speakers interviewed.

“It’s always going to work because there’s so much talent. I see it in people’s faces when we do shows. We are told: “you are beautiful, you are funny, it makes us feel good”. We are aware that there is a somewhat unifying side to the drag queen phenomenon”, maintains Luc Provost.

An art to be further demystified

This popularity also brings its share of negative reactions. Barbada has been the target in the past year. She has faced offensive comments in connection with story hours in Montreal libraries and more recently for portraying the Star Fairy in a Santa Claus parade.

According to her, these remarks come from a minority of people who often have a lack of knowledge of the profession. Educational work remains to be done, believes the drag, which is still comforted by the openness of young people.

“It tells me that in seven, eight or ten years these young people who will be adults will spread the right message about what the art of drag is. It encourages me enormously when I leave a conference and I see that they understand what it is. Then, often, they understand much more quickly than adults too, or even sometimes they already know, ”rejoices Barbada.

“We disturb because we are eccentric, we are above all provocative”, remarks for her part Mado Lamotte.

With a view to demystifying the work of drag queens, Michel Dorion and his agency are planning a first drag meeting in Quebec in May 2023. The event aims to reach the general public over two days.

“It’s for Mr. and Mrs. Everybody who wants to come and see what it’s like without necessarily going out to a bar on a Friday or Saturday. So they will be able to see all kinds of forms of drag art: drag queens, drag kings, ”explains Michel Dorion.

The event also includes mini-shows, costume parades as well as hair and make-up demonstrations.

“There is still a lot of hatred and misunderstanding towards drag. My goal with the event is not to manage to remove all these comments. I believe there are always likes and dislikes, and there always will be, as long as it’s respectful,” says the impersonator.

This article was produced with the financial support of the Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News.