Articles
So, youâve done your debut Drag King performanceâ and maybe youâre thinking, âWhatâs next? How do I actually get better at this Drag King thing?â
I see you, handsome. Youâre passionate, creative, and wildly curious. But I also know how easy it is to feel stuck after that first big moment on stage. ...
So⌠youâve seen a Drag King or two and something stirred inside you. Maybe it was at Queers of Joy, maybe on Instagram. Maybe you couldnât even name it at the time, but a part of you whispered: I want to do that.
And then maybe another voice came in, louder, saying:
âBut Iâve never performed befor...
(Yup, that's me âď¸Dario di Bello singing Do It LIke A Dude)
So... someoneâs asked you to sing live as your Drag King.
Your stomach flips. Your brain goes: "Me? Actually sing?" Maybe youâve been lip syncing for a while. Maybe youâre brand new to this world. Maybe someone once told you you should ne...
A gentle guide to crafting a persona thatâs rooted in truth, swagger, and your wild imagination.
By Danica Lani, The King Coach
So⌠where did he come from?
If youâre just starting out in the world of Drag Kinging, first of allâwelcome.
You belong here.
Maybe youâve been daydreaming about your D...
So, you've completed Kings of Joy Gold Stars, maybe youâve even been an All-Star, and your Drag King persona is beginning to take shape. You're feeling the creative spark flickerâmaybe even burnâand you're toying with ideas for your first solo routine or stepping onto new stages beyond Kings of Joy....
Feeling stuck or slow in your Drag King journey? Hereâs why rest, pause, and creative wintering are vital parts of becoming the artist youâre meant to be.
Welcome to the rhythm of your creative life, King.
Thereâs a lie weâve been sold in the world of art and performanceâthat we must always be pro...
New to Drag Kinging? Discover how Jo found her confidence by switching from a character to a King. Learn how finding the right persona can change everything.
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From Character to King: How Jo Found Her Drag Persona
When Jo first joined Kings of Joy, she was excited but unsure. Like many queer pe...
For the queer human whoâs drawn to Drag Kingingâbut still doesnât think of themselves as a performer.
Youâre not the only one asking this question.
âI love Drag Kings⌠but Iâm not a performer.â
âI have no rhythm.â
âI get nervous even speaking in a group.â
âIâm terrified Iâll forget the choreogr...
[Rex McCooch, PI]
Musicality isnât just about keeping in time with the beatâitâs about feeling the music, understanding its dynamics, and using movement, expression, and timing to amplify your performance. Itâs the difference between a good performance and one that stays in the audienceâs minds lon...
Being a Drag King is exhilaratingâuntil youâre peeling off layers of tape, scrubbing at stubborn makeup, or realising your costume smells like a gym bag because you havenât had time to wash it. When drag becomes a drag, itâs usually because the little things start piling upâsweaty costumes, dry skin...
As Drag Kings, we play with masculinity, but how we do that matters. Are we poking fun at something specific (parody) or critiquing a bigger idea (satire)?
Understanding the difference between parody and satire sharpens your act, strengthens your message, and makes your performance land exactly how...
When you step into the world of Drag Kinging, itâs natural to wonderâwhat sets a Drag King apart from male impersonation? Itâs a question Iâve heard often, and Iâm glad youâre asking it, because understanding the difference is key to creating a persona that feels authentic, powerful, and unapologeti...