Each time that Shaunna Rai has a show out of state, it brings about a slew of new stressors for us both. I have to be sure that the car is loaded and that I haven't forgotten anything. I have to be sure that I have the time off from work. I have to be sure that if we're bringing someone with us, that I have the time to get them before we have to leave for the venue. Toll money, gas money, ID, all of it.  |
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So, Miss E,on was part of the show, so Tuesday night, we drove to Lewiston to pick him up. Any time with Benni is always fun. And, it was nice to see him, since it's been a long time.
Wednesday morning, I had to be at work at 7am, so I had to go to bed early Tuesday night. And, I had to be up early Wednesday morning. The day was long, and frustrating, because I wasn't really feeling it. I wanted to be off from work. And, finally, 3pm came, and my day was over...sort of. The boring part was over. The fun part still was a few hours away.
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| Miss E,on does a Weird Al Yankovic mix |
I enjoy the process of dragging up when E,on is around, because (quite frankly) I don't have to help as much with the location of hips, butt, etc. I get to pretty much goof off, and get dressed for the show. Then I'm the bag boy, and chauffeur. E,on does all the hard work, and given their history, Shaunna and E,on have worked together for a long time, and know how to deal with each other's bodies.
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| Bonita Katrina |
The drive is always the worst part, when it's an out of state venue. While I was waiting for the girls to come out, I'd run to the gas station, to fill up, and remembered to set the GPS for Fran's Place. This is huge, because I never remember to do either before going somewhere new. So, yay, me.
Upon arrival, I parked in a loading zone. And, then panicked, because it was 15 minute parking, and I was going to be there from 8pm-2am. We checked in with Asia, and met Dineen, the manager, who had invited Shaunna Rai and Miss E,on to come perform, and then I took Shaunna's suitcase upstairs, to the dressing area. Asia told me that I could move to the rear of the building into the No Parking zone, and I would be fine for the night. So, I went to move the car...and promptly got lost, because where I thought there should be a cross road, there was none. So, I turned around, and then, very rebelliously, I parked in the no parking zone. And, then prayed like I have never prayed before, that I didn't find my car missing at the end of the night.
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| Asia Thavone |
I had to go back through the bouncer, and tell him who I was, and explain that I was the photographer for the night, and my name was on a list. I was a little annoyed, but, hey, I'm a new face, and how is he to know who I am? Shaunna and I grabbed drinks, with our drink tickets, and then went to talk to Asia. Dineen came over to talk to us, and let us know what to expect for the night. She asked me about my plans for pictures, and whether I was going to be selling CD's of the night, or not. Figuring that it wouldn't hurt to try selling them, I said I would, and then started what was a very stressful tour of the bar, during which I
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| Shaunna Rai performs to Proud Mary. |
went around to random people asking if I could take their pictures, explaining that I was selling the CD's of the night, and handing out business cards. And, surprisingly, I actually managed to sell a couple of CD's.
After being able to hardly conceal my excitement of having sold the CD's, I ran back over to Shaunna, to share my excitement. Dineen came back over, and introduced us to the owner of Fran's Place (whose name I have since forgotten). He told us that he was excited to work with some new queens. He told us about a couple of queens who had come to work with Fran's before, who had since moved on, but he wanted to keep queens in the picture.
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| Cindy and Candy got engaged. |
And, then, it was almost show time. Shaunna and E,on went upstairs to start getting ready for their numbers, and tasked me with letting Bonita Katrina and Dee-Lish know that the show was close to starting. This was cool. I always kind of like getting to interact with the queens I don't know. Bonita, I had seen on Facebook, prior to the show, so I had no problem talking to her, because I knew exactly who she was and what she looked like. Dee-Lish, I didn't know. And, I'd heard her called Delicious. I wasn't sure what she looked like, and so I hoped when I actually saw her that I would recognize her. And, I lucked out and did. Only, I had to bite my tongue, and not use her name, because I couldn't remember it, in the moment, and would have, more or less put my foot in my mouth.
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| Dee-Lish |
Just before the show, Dineen had me go out on the stage with her, as she told everyone who I was, and that I was going to be selling pictures. She plugged this blog, and told people who were interested in getting pictures, to see me.
The show finally started. Dee-Lish was first, E,on did a Weird Al Yankovic number that I always enjoy, then came Bonita. Shaunna was supposed to be up next, but the DJ was having trouble with the music, so there was a last minute switch up, for Asia to go, and then Shaunna. And, as usual, the audience was singing along with Tina Turner's "Proud Mary." And, the first half of the show was over.
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| Miss E,on |
Food was brought out, and a buffet set up. People were dancing. And, then, the countdown started. 10, 9, 8.... The clock struck midnight, and everyone kissed. I got a rare kiss from Shaunna Rai. And, then there was an announcement. A pair of women were called out to the dance floor. And, I witnessed my first proposal in person...and got to photograph it. I just wished that I could've had a flash that recharged faster, so I could've gotten more pictures.
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| Bonita Katrina |
At some point in here, Dineen asked me to show myself again, while she let everyone know that I was going to be selling pictures from the night, and that anyone interested should see me.
Dee-Lish again started off the second half of the show, E,on was "All About That Bass", Bonita did a number, that was mixed with clips of Miss Swan, from MAD TV (and I just about died, because I was laughing so much), then Shaunna and finally Asia.
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| Shaunna Rai |
While my CD sales came to a grand total of two CD's, I had a lot of fun. I started off the New Year, doing something that I love doing. And, I started it off doing something that scared me. Because, let's face it, I'm too shy for my own good, unless I'm hiding behind my blog. By stepping out of my comfort zone, and actually talking to people I don't know, I proved to myself that I could do it. I don't have to be the guy who hides in the background while Shaunna Rai mingles with her "adoring public." Because, I can do that too, and get my name out there as someone who writes a silly blog about what it's like to go to all these drag shows, and hang out with drag queens, and as a photographer, who takes a ton of pictures.
I took more pictures throughout the rest of the evening, although, after the end of the show, things cleared out pretty quickly.
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| Asia Thavone |
Then, came the long trek back home. The, "Oh crap, I hope I don't get stopped, because I don't know where I'm going, or which lane I need to be in..." moments. The customary trip to pick up fast food for the way home. And, finally, the minute we walk back through the door at home, and I more or less run to the bedroom and pass out on the bed.
In my history of 34 years worth of New Years Eves, I would say that this was, without a doubt top two. The only rival, being the first year that Dan and I were together, when we went to Mainestreet, in Ogunquit.
Dineen, and Fran's Place, thank you so much for having us, and for having me, specifically. I look forward to coming back in February, for Valentine's Day!
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