
But it really showcased what we are as performers and as artists, what we can do with the song.” “Some of us did a lot more, you know, to go above and beyond. We’re going to do digital quarantine shows here and there,” Andrews said. So we all collectively decided, ‘OK, we’re going to keep doing these brunches, our digital brunch.
Pearl drag queen in person texas how to#
As time went on, we figured out how to do it. “We literally looked like we were just a bunch of amateurs trying to make something happen. “Because all of us had to use our creative minds to figure out ‘How do we make this show better than just going live in your living room? What can we do to make people want to keep watching?’”Īndrews said putting on a digital show didn’t come without its share of difficulties, especially when you include other drag queens.

“Getting to go live and somehow attract out audience and to keep them, you know, wanting more in a different perspective was so fun,” Andrews said. “We still had out dedicated fanbase … they were so supportive.”ĭigital drag shows allowed Andrews to continue performing beyond the closures and give the fans a party online. They were wary about what they were going to do, what to expect,” he said. And a lot of entertainers across the city especially have incredible passion for what they do and what they portray,” Andrews said.Īndrews said before the closures of venues went into effect, people started being more cautious when attending drag shows.

“When you’re on stage, you have to be passionate about what you’re doing. “A lot of us performers have always enjoyed interacting with our audience, going out there … letting them know how much we’re so grateful for them and getting to know them more and more.”Īndrews says the interaction between drag performers and the audience is what created a fun atmosphere during his nightlife shows and brunches. “Prior to the pandemic, I had enjoyed an amazing career in performing for amazing people across the city, state and nation,” he said. From drag brunches to club dance floors, he has also had to dabble in the world of digital drag to continue his performing career during the pandemic. Miss Toni Andrews is no stranger to the spotlight at several venues around San Antonio and the nation. We see them all the time, and we miss seeing them, and I can’t wait to see them,” he continued. “We develop a relationship with a lot of the people that go to our shows. That’s where we get out life from,” he said. “The audience - that’s where we get our energy from.

The adjustment for Tencha La Jefa was trying to get used to performing without an audience. But once you do it, it’s pretty fun,” he said. “There’s a lot of preparation and a lot of nervousness and a lot of figuring out to do. However, his came with a twist - he also sold Tupperware while performing in drag. Tencha La Jefa decided to follow in the steps of other queens and put on his own digital drag show.

“That kind of brought me up a little bit.” “At first, it was scary that we had to stay home, but then I started seeing the (other drag queens) performing on Facebook and doing their videos,” he said. But as a hairdresser, he was really hit hard by the pandemic due to the closure of salons and barbershops in Texas for months. Tencha La Jefa says performing in drag was more of a side job for him. “Before the pandemic, I was actually starting to slow down a bit because I used to do, like, I would say, six shows a month - six to seven - but then I started slowing down to three,” he said. Tencha La Jefa is a longtime San Antonio drag queen who has hosted many shows at venues on the Main Avenue strip in the gay business district downtown. SAN ANTONIO – Drag is an art form loved by many in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has slowed down gigs for several performers, leaving some queens to turn the party on digital platforms.
