A Concept Review.

The book will be based around the meeting of a lesser-known Drag Queen who is the glamorous "Miss Julie Paid". I will photograph and interview Alfie, the creator of such a character. This will be presented as text alongside digitally manipulated photographs of Alfie getting ready before a performance which will capture his transformation from man to woman. Through interview, I hope to start to reveal who Alfie really is behind the make-up and lavish costumes, what led to him creating this persona and how he wants Miss Julie Paid to be perceived. I hope not only illustrate him as an interesting character, but to present what I have found out in a way that represents a whole genre in itself that is starting to disappear from the Cabaret scene.

Showtime!

The Costume

The Make-Up

Interview Questions

• What led to Alf creating this female Alter-ego of his Drag Act?

• Where did the idea for "Miss Julie Paid" as a persona come from?

• How do you think that Julie Paid is perceived by the audience?

• How long have you been doing stand-up as a Drag Act?

• If you had to describe Julie Paid, How would you describe her?

• Do you enjoy what you do?

• How do you feel when you become "Miss Julie Paid"?

• How do you want your audience to react?

• How long does it take for you to get ready?
  

• Is there a routine that you follow?

• What are your views on the fact that traditional Drag Acts is becoming less popular?

• Who really is Miss Julie Paid?

• What motivates them as a Drag Act?

• Where did the idea come from?

• What is it about being a Drag Act that you enjoy so much?

• Where are you from? Maybe some background history etc.

• Does the dress you choose to wear donate how you feel on a particular night?

• Do you look to other well-known Drag Acts as inspiration?

Who Really Is "Miss Julie Paid"?

I have started to think about Interviewing Alf before his gig as "Miss Julie Paid". I want to find out as much as I can about him as a separate personality than too the one which is seen during his performance as Julie. I want to think of questions that are interesting enough to really get to know Alf as a person, The creator of Julie Paid. I think the questions should be interesting and different for them to stand out that may even provide a narrative, and/or raise an issue that could be used to represent a whole genre in itself. It may even provide an element of irony, pathos and humor according to the responses I get. I hope that by the end of the book, the viewer begins to become aware of who the real character is, and what it is like to be a Drag Act. I have decided to record the interview by voice recorder as this might inform how I develop and present my illustrations according to what I have found out and observed.

Screen Printing by Andy Warhol

Photography by David LaChapelle

I think that photography is going to the best way to represent the glamor of Miss Julie Paid and the colorful atmosphere that she creates and presents. I really want to visually represent the element of "Tarnished Glamor" by establishing a contrast between the pub-like setting for her act and the glamor reflected in the shimmer and sparkle of her costumes, and vivacious personality, more often associated with the "red-carpet" image. I have decided to use photographs as a means to document my visit and meeting of Alf. I hope to work with the imagery too work from, or even present them as the final illustrations. In order for them to become illustrations, and not entirely whole photographs I think I will have to think of ways to manipulate the photographs by working on top of them in layers. I don't wan tot change the image too drastically though, So maybe working with several filters will do the trick....I'm really not sure just yet so here are some ideas for photographic shots that I may develop further:

Close-up shots, A contrast between the masculinity of his features with the femininity of the make-up, silk dresses and feather boas. Masculine hands doing up a shoe clasp etc.

The dressing room itself as a personal and reflective space both before and after his/her performance, the objects within it, the clothing rails of costumes.

Cropping pictures of the make-up lined up, the hairspray, and Diamonds, The Mirror....basically, the objects becoming a reflection of himself, just how he has left it.

Photographing his stand-up gig and the reaction from others.

I don't want to invade his personal and private space, but to provide a portrait through interviewing and photographing the man behind the mask, behind the persona that he has created and acts out in front of a small audience.

Performance Cancelled!

Just a quick note....Julie cancelled her gig for tonight at Molly Mogg's. I was looking forward to experiencing one of her stand-up gigs and hopefully getting to meet and greet her in person, as this would have been the first contact I have made since finding out about her gigs. However, according to the barman this isn't a habit of hers. Due to tiredness from over performing Alf will be doing other gigs soon enough, So I will be going next week. I spoke to the barman and apparently Julie is always willing to participate in interviewing and often poses for photographers.

Molly Moggs

A Weblink:

http://misscrystaldcanter.com/Julie.htm

Introducing Miss Julie Paid

Her name really is "Miss Julie Paid" and there she was; On a poster displaying herself in all her glamorous glory. I even know his real name yet, Although I think he might be called Alf. Miss Julie Paid does stand-up gigs on Wednesday nights and Sunday evening at "Molly Moggs", A Cabaret Bar situated at the end of Old Compton Street in Soho. Apparently Julie Paid includes a mixture of comedy and singing into a cabaret performance, wearing no other than her lavish costumes and jewels. I think she has been doing stand-up here for a while, only to small audiences though. Definitely have to check this out!

I think by taking photos during her performance I will gain an understanding of what he/she does before getting to know her better and maybe asking her if she would participate in an interview. I think this will be the best way to get to know the real person behind the persona by documenting and recording through photograph and film that will provide the visual material from which to illustrate from.

The Drag-Act

A Drag Queen is simply the name given to a man who dresses in female clothing for special occasions, such as for the purpose of a performance as a stand-up gig or being a hostess at a party. They have become known for their glamorous persona and character often naming themselves to reflect this. Some Drag Act names have sexual innuendo, or sometimes they are just a reflection of the character they are trying to portray. They have become known for projecting an image of decadent excess, with lavish costumes, Make-up, Feather boas and Jewels.

Initial Concept

My intention for this book project will be too illustrate a Drag Queen as an interesting subject. This will be achieved by selecting, meeting and hopefully interviewing a lesser-known Drag Queen. If this is possible, I will start to provide an insight into their character as they become the central character of the book. My aim is to find out about what they do and why by providing an insight into the true identity that created such a personality. At this stage, I'm not entirely sure how the illustrations will look as I need to develop a way of documenting what I found out in the best possible way. Initially, I think Photography would be an interesting way to document this process by observing the environment in which he performs (such as inside the venue and his dressing room). It might also be interesting to observe the reaction of the audience during a gig and the effect his/her presence has both on and off the stage. In doing so, I hope I too represent the drag act as a whole genre in itself and the transformation into what they become.

Some questions to think about....

Without the make-up and Lavish costumes, could there be another personality behind this facade?

Could it be that they use this persona to strive for recognition and respect from others?

What led to the man creating this female Alter-ego of his Drag Act?

How did it all begin and why?

Where did the idea come from?

What motivates them as a Drag Act?

How long has he/she been doing it for and why?