WONDERFUL WORLD OF WIGS #13

I'm on tour, I LOVE saying that, in Europe and after you picture me lounging in first class or being wined and dined by royalty and such or being served tea and pastries in my penthouse, suite allow me to give you the real story beneath the glamour…

I flew into Frankfurt, Germany to do a show in Heidelberg, about one hour from Frankfurt.  But the promoter of that event fled town with the entire budget so the event was canceled.  It was too late to change my ticket so I shacked up at a hotel next to the airport (I was able to get a refund on the room from the Agency) and cocooned it for 30 hours!  Fabulous actually as I have been working my buns off and needed to sleep.  Then I flew to Warsaw for Euro Pride.  I was so excited to be performing in Poland for the first time and to be there with my dear old friend Lady Bunny (did I mention old?), Amanda LePore, Daniel Nardicio, Go Go Harder, Matt, Julie Atlas Muz and mien Titten Schwester from Berlin, Gloria Viagra.  I love all these people.  Sadly, it was such a nightmare!  In the 18 years I've been doing drag it was one of the low points and not because Bunny had jet-lag gas but because it was the most unorganized event ever - and I didn't get paid!!  First they said the hotel was booked up and I would have to stay in some apartment.  I was like, "um, no".  So I booked my own room where Bunny and Amanda were, not full at all.  The gang arrived a few days before me and were already complaining about paying for their own taxis etc.  So the red flag was up!  I spent the day at the parade with Gloria.  This was an experience.  I forget sometimes how easy we really have it in NYC.  Our pride is more of a party.  Here it was political activism!  Dodging eggs and firecrackers, being sprayed with Holy Water (it was actually hot as hell so thank u) and maneuvering between the police who were trying to control the skinheads.  So kudos to the brave LGTB community in Warsaw and all those who came to support them.  I went back and got ready for the show.  When the Polish promoter came to pick me up I refused to leave until he paid for the room.  Diva, no!  Jewish, yes!  We drove quite a distance out of the center of town to this warehouse.  The band Betty was playing and they were great!  LOVE those gals.  There was a decent crowd but then most of them left.  The promoter kept saying, "Don't worry, we pre-sold 500 tickets!  It's going to be packed".  I was hanging out with this really sweet Polish drag queen in the dressing room who said, "No way.  No one is coming.  It's too far away and too expensive".  So what does a drop dead gorgeous professional drag queen do?  Booze it up!  At the peak there were about 30 people there who wanted a show and I was drunk and ready.  I asked for the microphone and they guy looked at me like I had asked for a plane ticket to Mars.  "Microphone????".  That's when we all split.  It's kind of my fault as I broke Rule #1 of International Prostitution - GET THE MONEY FIRST!

Luckily, I had a gorgeous time performing the next night at gmf in Berlin.  gmf is one of the longest running gay dance parties in Berlin run by my friends Bob and Mickey.  It was the first club I did a show at in Berlin in 1998 with Jackie Beat.  The roof top was open and performing up there in front of the Fernsehturm was breathtaking.  Gloria Viagra was DJing and so many Berlin queens were there.  It was packed and people were loving the Lady GaGa parodies.  But I guess my screeching was a bit too annoying as the police arrived just as I was finishing and turned off the sound.  It was quite a scandal as some old biddy threatened to sue for permanent ear damage (I was not that off key) and the venue owners were furious.  But the audience was happy, Bob and Mickey were thrilled and I GOT PAID!

I'm off to perform in Hamburg, Helsinki, The Atlantis Gay Cruise and then Amsterdam so much more to come… I hope to check out some local drag shows.

Meow!

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WIGS! # 12

I'm writing this week's article from Phoenix, Arizona where I am performing for the weekend.  It's 110 degrees!  Yes, 110!!!  I actually like the intense heat, it makes me feel alive.  But it is not really drag friendly weather.  As soon as I stepped out of my hotel room last night I almost fainted.  And when I got home I had to wring my tits out!  BUT - I am having the best time here!!  I live for the drag cavalcades you get at clubs outside of NYC.  Don't get me wrong, NYC drag is amazing and you really get performers who are at the top of their game.  But we don't have 2 hour shows with 3-4 queens giving you costume changes, etc.  And the queens here are so fun, nice and talented!!  Friday night I was a guest at Apollos. Barbra Seville is the host and the "lady" responsible for getting me out here.  She's super nice and when she came backstage before the show with a tray of shooters I knew we would be dear friends.  Barbra was electric onstage and hysterical on the microphone.  For the second set she did a spot on Bette Midler including a live monologue (not easy) and she nailed it.  Also on the bill was the sexy Sasha who turned out Katy Perry.  She's super thin (bitch) and actually performed in a bikini!  And then came Celia Putty!  I was gagging!  Celia was a well known drag entertainer but then took 10 years off and is now returning.  People must have missed her because this gal is over the top, out of her mind funny!  She did a Sarah Palin medley that mixed dialogue with songs.  When she whipped out a rifle and started singing Barracuda I fell on the floor.  Ok, I was bombed by then and fell on the floor.  But the point is she was killing me.  During the break (remember, it's a 2 hour drag show!) Celia was changing into her next costume.  When she wrapped a sweater around her head I said, "You are not doing Edie Beale?!?"  She just smiled.  She took the stage performing a song from Grey Gardens and mixed it with dialogue from the movie.  I was in heaven!!  (I'm writing this part the next day) Saturday night I performed at Forbidden Nightclub.  I was a bit worn out and the dry heat was getting to me. I felt like Shequida was following me around breathing on me!  But the crowd was so energetic and excited I rallied for the show.  Barbra was the host again and opened with a gorgeous rendition of Rio.  The other girls were Naomi, a beautiful lady who opened in a dress made out of strips of black sequin the size of band aids!  She was great and totally lovely.  And Maikala is on fire!  She has many titles (not a NYC thing but very important when everywhere else) and I could see why.  Dancing and burning up the stage.  Costumes galore.  A real show girl.  I loved her version of Roxie.  Thanks Phoenix!!

I hate to complain and never vent here but... I made a return appearance at Celebrities in Vancouver to celebrate their Canada Day.  There is a reason why I always insist on flying direct on show days.  For some reason I said they could get me the cheap ticket and what a nightmare!  I had a 6am flight (UGH!) so was already cranky from no sleep and coming off of a boozy night before at the Ritz.  I had a short stop in Detroit.  We are boarding the plane when they make an announcement that everyone had to deplane.  There was a mechanical problem and the flight was canceled.  No explanation, no directions, just get off.  Now there are 200 people RUNNING to the Help Center to be the first.  I got caught up in the frenzy and was running as fast as I could.  I must have looked like Bianca del Rio (minus the white eyeliner) trying to out run the border police.  When I got there there were already 100 people in line so I decided to call instead.  I was informed that I had already been redirected to Dallas and would arrive in Vancouver at 11pm!  Mind you it is 9am!  I lost it!!  I told them I was an international drag performer and had to be in Vancouver before 8pm or I would miss the show and thousands of people would be devastated.  She hung on me.  I called back and tried the "nice" approach and was redirected to Vancouver via Chicago and Minneapolis.  Yes, 4 flights to get there.  9 hours late!!  I was NOT happy.  As compensation they offered me 25 Delta dollars which means I could purchase headsets and half a coke.  But once I got there the promoters, Blue and James,  felt so bad for me that they really took care of me.  Limo rides to and from the airport and a GORGEOUS hotel room.  The show was crazy fun and was packed.  The hostess was this funny queen Joan E.  The next day I slept about 12 hours then had lunch with my dear friend Cotton.  Moral: fly direct!

A quick shout out to my Hero Of The Moment, Felicity Stardust!  She has been saving my life all week! We shot the Alejandro video parody and again, Felicity was on top of it.  Making props, helping me, assisting others - a real trooper and someone I can depend on so I want her to know how much I appreciate it!  Thanks bitch.

I was trying to think of what else to write about as most of my out of town gigs have been solo and I haven't seen any wig hoppers,  Then it hit me -duh!  I just saw Lady GaGa at Madison Square Garden.  Thierry Mugler was given 4 tickets but couldn't go so sent them to our friend Keith Dunhill who invited Joey Arias, Raven O and myself.  We had super hot seats - really the only way to see a big concert.  We were sitting there waiting when I got a text from Jon Jon Battles who was on the floor (K Hole? No, standing in front of the stage on the floor) saying, "Looks like a Bar d'O reunion".  I wrote back, "This is the row for middle aged drag queens".  His reply: "I think that's being kind".  Love her.  Anyhoo- Miss Fame Monster delivers 200%!!!  She was phenomenal!!!  Costumes galore, dancing, playing the harp, playing a keyboard guitar thing,  playing the piano with her boots!!  It really was spectacular. People can say what they want but I think she's the hottest thing since no glue press on fingernails.  I am a huge fan!!  My favorite moments were Speechless and Teeth.  AND she is the most outspoken supporter of the LGBT community.  No one else does that!  She has her old friends from the LES onstage with her, she spoke of her charity for homeless youth (many are LGBT) and made lots of comments about gay love!  Living for GaGa!!!

Check out my brand new video parody of Alejandro, YOU'RE A HOMO!

Next article from Europe!

Sherry in Europe!!

I'm going to be performing all over the place in Europe this summer - here are the dates.  I'll be posting pics and more info very soon... meow!

July 16 - Squeezebox Berlin party in Heidelberg, Germany

July 17 - Euro Pride in Warsaw!  w/Daniel Nardicio, Lady Bunny, Go Go Harder, Gloria Viagra

July 18 - gmf in Berlin

July 23 - Squeezebox Berlin

July 25 - Gay Boat Cruise in Hamburg, Germany

July 28 - Squeezebox party in northern Germany (don't even know the name if the city tee hee!)

July 29 - Chantal's House of Shame in Berlin

July 31 - Hamburg Gay Pride

August 1 - Hercules Club in Helsinki

Aug 3- 7 - Atlantis Gay Cruise (Helsinki, Stockholm, Amsterdam)

Aug 7 - Fruitcake Party in Amsterdam

I had a blast performing in Des Moines!!  Friday at Blazing Saddles and Saturday at Gay Pride opening for Alec Mapa!  David Serrano was the DJ and we turned it out for about 20,000 people!!  SO FUN!! Thanks Des Moines!!

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/gay-life/drag-queen-icons-sherry-vine-and-joey-arias-gush-about-montreal/

Dear Diary,

Saturday I flew from Orlando to Albany on a 6am flight -gag!!  But went directly to the hotel to take  a nap.  Oops - slept right thru sound check and woke up at 9pm!  Yikes!  Had to throw it together but luckily I only need a light powder and some lip gloss.  Isis Vermouth, crazy queen from Poughkeepsie who does the party at Rocks in Albany, picked me up.  I love that bitch.  She is funny but smart and a good time gal!  When we got to the club I was surprised by how many queens came out to perform.  Or in the case of IvanaDouche and Anita Morray, booze it up!  I fell in love with many wig wearers that night!  It was a tequila night -need I say more??  The first show featured a trio from Vermont called, House of LeMay.  I had heard of them because they do an annual charity event called Drag Ball.  Again, so nice.  People always want to believe that queens are bitchy, catty and territorial - but enough about Bianca del Rio - but I'm always blown away by how inviting they actually are.  LeMay do a big all live cabaret show with many favorites and originals.  Love them!  Also performing that night in the second set was Anna, Jizzabella and the sickest queen I have ever met - Shealita Baby!  If you are not familiar with Shealita youtube her NOW!  Absolutely twisted and politically incorrect!!  Love.

Dear Diary,

Did a show on Friday at Revolution in Orlanda as part of Gay Days!  The club has a gorgeous stage and dressing room (something oddly missing from NYC!) and the room was packed!!  The drop dead sexy Danielle Hunter runs the show.  She's super sweet and a good mother for the other girls.  I'm always impressed with the Southern Ladies; they change from head to toe for every number, gowns, jewelry, etc.  Danielle travels with boxes of hair and fishing tackles full of jewels!  Also on the bill that night was Bebe Zahara Benet form Rupaul's Season One.  She is my new bff!  She was getting ready at the club.  Bebe had her make up laid out in front of her and 2 Snickers bars!  She kept trying to make me eat one but I resisted.  No solid food in 12 years now.  She was so funny and had great stories about growing up in Cameroon.  Bebe doesn't drink - how does a drag queen not drink??  I don't get it.  But I love her now!! A big thanks to the amazing and talented ladies, Shantell D Marco and Sexia Lopez for sharing the stage.

Tresor Diary,

Once again Joey and I had a blast in Montreal!  Cabaret Mado is one of the funnest places to perform.  They really appreciate drag shows in Montreal.  The room was packed, the most we've had there yet, and we sand our buns off! Merci Montreal!!  Bisous!!

Just filmed a cameo for Michael Lucas's new film - King of New York with Michael Musto, Bianca del Rio (in make up from the night before!), Big Brother reality star Steven Daigle and porno star Zach!  so funny!!!!

I'm on tour right now with the legendary JOEY ARIAS - the most outrageous, generous and all around "good-time-gal" I've ever known.  I love this bitch!  So I'm going to talk a bit about the queens we are encountering on the road.  We're doing 5 cities in 7 days so it's lots of packing, unpacking and waiting in lines at airport - the glamorous life of international prostitute showgirls!  We had 2 packed shows in San Francisco at The RRAZZ ROOM. There were a lot of lonely wigs at home that night as the audience was chock full of queens sans wigs!  But SISTER ROMA was in full battlegear and the drop dead gorgeous CASSANDRA CASS was in attendance.  We had lunch the next day with Trannyshack founder HEKLINA and MATTHEW MARTIN (the most brilliant Bette Davis ever!!).Next we performed in a new club called FIVE SIXTY in Vancouver.  If you visit Vancouver you must check it out - it's enormous; an art gallery, cafe, VIP lounge, disco toilet and huge dance area.  COTTON VENUS introduced us and we got bombed after.  I adore Cotton - so funny!  Just watch her show House Of Venus on HERE TV if you don't believe me.  She took us all around the city the next day.  Next stop was Portland, my first time there, where we did our thing for a new night called PEEP at THE REDKAP GARAGE.  They were so good to us - car service, dinner, unlimited cocktails - we took full advantage of that one honey!  MC'ing and performing was a queen named ARTEMIS CHASE who lived in NYC briefly and is just sweet and beautiful.  Porcelin skin -bitch!  LOL.  No really, flawless skin.  Bitch.  She turned us out as did another local "lady", Ecstacy.  Our final stop on this leg of the Pacific Rim tour was Los Angeles.  INCREDIBLE!!!  We turned it out and sang our manginas off!  In the audience, legends Jackie Beat, Constance, Mario Diaz, Tony Frere, Alexus Arquette and the goddess Candis Cayne.