The trip from yesterday really took a tole on my body. I just relax until it's time to go meet my first drag queen. In the heart of the Philadelphia "Gay-borhood" there is a club named Woody's. On the upstairs level of the club is a side bar which is empty except for one man. There is makeup scattered everywhere on the bar, and a dress and wig is sitting behind him. I meet Sal with a firm handshake. We both sit at the bar and start discussing what this project is all about. He is very enthusiastic about it, and tells me he'll help me out in anyway he can. He begins applying make up all over his face. I'm dumbfounded with how much there is. Skin toners, whiteners, blushes, darker blushes, glitters, eye shadows, eyebrow stuff, lipsticks, he cakes it on his face all while entertaining me with stories. I'm amazed at how good he is at this. In my mind he is a face artist, taking his time for perfection. He presses on some long fake eyelashes, turns to me and pronounces that he's done. He face looks very different. He puts on female clothes and he has completed his transformation from Sal, to "Salatta T." We have a couple more minutes before he has to go out on stage, so we spend this time talking some more and getting to know one another. He is very friendly, but I remain cautious. I don't really know what to expect or what to think about the situation I've put myself in. Show time.
I find a place to sit at the bar. The bar has flat screen tv's all around a bright pink wall. There are giant over sized Mardi Gras beads hanging from the ceiling above the dance floor. It's only 9:00 pm so it's pretty empty. There is one other table of people. Salatta T is introduced and begins to sing her karaoke song.
After listening to many songs and having a drink or two, the bar starts to fill up. There is a good crowd of guys and girls.all waiting for their chance to get up to the microphone. Except for Salatta comparing the Mardi Gras beads to a "different type" of beads, there is nothing to out of the ordinary and I feel relatively comfortable.
5 comments:
photo?? before make-up, after make-up??? I'm curious to see.
When will we see pics of Behrle in Drag?
"Salatta T is introduced and begins to sing her karaoke song."
Do they prefer to be referred to as women even though they are men, and everyone knows they are men? Just curious.
I am trying to upload photo's. I have a couple that I really want to be a part of this blog. Once I can figure out the best way to get them up, they will be. As for Brandon's question, the answer is yes. They actually do prefer to be called by their drag name. Sal, Salatta, is very cautious in giving his personal name. I honestly don't know if his real name is "Sal". I intend to find out. But right now (at least around me) it's "Salatta" or "Sal" for short. And that's it.
In my movie the only time the drag queen went by her real name was at work (McDonalds)
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