So you want to be a drag queen?

Don’t do it 😂

Just kidding… I think. 

After almost 10 years of doing drag (Ginger is 10 in March 2026) and after almost four years of being a full-time queen, I thought it was time to impart some wisdom to people who are thinking about doing drag or perhaps people who are just starting their journey and are looking for some tips - on what not to do!

📸 Callum James Littlemore

I imagine my peers may read this with a bit of side eye. Fact is we all have different opinions, these are just mine for a large part. Drag and self-employment is a big learning journey that you never stop learning from.

Also, this is just a perspective from a cabaret artist's side of drag. There are many other forms, all of which are valid, and there are plenty of people with much more experience than me who you can also talk to for their opinion.

Now that I’ve heavily caveated myself, here are my top 17 tips. Yes, that is quite a lot! But here they are. Some of these tips are things I wish I was told when I started, so I really hope they help somebody:

1. Have something else. The nightlife industry is on its arse. Pubs and clubs are closing everywhere and relying on them for 100% of your income is very unwise in my opinion. There are already more drag queens than there are gigs, so have a backup plan, and another backup plan. Although you may not be able to do a full-time day job and drag, even a part-time day job will remove some of the pressure of working in bars. It also helps to have other cash coming in if venues are late paying you.

2. Don’t undervalue yourself or the profession. Don’t charge too little, but be realistic - not everybody can get a full fee from day one. When you are getting started, get some proper photos done (once you're happy with your look), build a promo reel (by getting people to film you at shows), enter competitions (the right ones at the right time e.g. save Drag Idol until you have more experience), and talk to other drag queens about the right fee to charge for the right gig. 

3. Don’t rush. If I could go back in time, I would have found safe stages to cut my teeth on. Places that didn’t know me, places not connected to the circuit. I would’ve developed my act and then hit my hometown hard and fresh out the gate! If you bomb in your hometown, they may not let you forget it and you may never get another chance. No one is required to hire you. This also means that you shouldn’t try and get around every venue in the country… until your act is ready! If you rush it, you leave yourself nowhere to return to.

4. Jealousy and comparing yourself to others is just part of the game. Anyone who tells you that they are just focused on themselves and are oblivious to other acts is lying to you! We all get jealous, we all want more, we all get insecure and in our own heads, and we all have shit gigs from time to time… the key thing is learning how to cope with it. Have a couple of friends that you trust implicitly to talk to you when you need it, have a therapist, and find a healthy way to release the frustration. Don’t go moaning to everybody because it won’t do you any favours, trust me.

5. Be patient. I repeat, be patient. Anyone reading this now will probably be saying, “Ginger, you need to take your own advice!” I have learnt this the hard way. If you nag everyone for work, payment or posters, eventually you will wind people up. Not everyone works on your schedule, and not everyone works to conventional deadlines. Sometimes pestering can be effective but it can very easily go the other way. So if the level of communication and responsiveness with somebody isn’t working, consider just pulling back from them completely. Let them come to you! This is difficult, but it really matters.

6. It’s a social business. Stay for a drink after the show, even if it’s only just one drink. Be friends with the DJs, the staff, security, and, of course, management… you never know when you’re going to bump into somebody or need them in the future, and gossip travels fast. Don’t be a cunt to anyone and make friends.

7. Invest! Spend money on your drag. Not only does this make sense for tax reasons, but it shows that you care. A high-quality backing track, a wardrobe that isn’t the same three dresses worn on rotation, nice hair and jewellery - it all makes a big impact. And you don’t have to spend a fortune… Just spend your money in the right places.

📸 Callum James Littlemore

8. Be legit. It might seem rock ‘n’ roll not to declare all your income, but you are leaving yourself exposed, and it absolutely comes back to bite people. Also, if you’re ever applying for a mortgage, or self-employment grant in the next national pandemic, you will regret having under-declared your income! Pay your taxes, buy your tracks and get an accountant. As soon as tax goes digital, you are going to want to make sure that you’ve done everything correctly.

9. Remember you never know who’s in the room. Whether it’s on stage or in a dressing room, if you have a bitch about somebody, somebody will know somebody and it will get back to them. Don’t say anything that doesn’t advance you. Also, your reputation is everything… it can take years to build and seconds to break.

10. Careful on social media! Again, something I’ve learned the hard way… please learn from my mistakes. Find a couple of people that you trust implicitly and run to them when you need to rant/ Don’t put it online. Bookings may be affected, and screenshots can last forever. Also, make sure that you are using social media to promote your gigs, and say thank you to venues and audiences after every single gig.

11. Don’t go in and be shit. If you aren’t in the mood or you are feeling unwell, it will come across, so either call in sick (which might get you slagged off - but it’s far better than doing a shit show), or preferably put your big girl pants on and look like you’re having a good time.

12. Be different. Gays are spoiled with way too many drag queens. Whilst there are staple songs that they love to hear, they also crave variety. If you have something you do that no one else can, then that will be a thing that you are booked for.

13. If you can, learn how to drive. If you have a good attitude, a car, and a PA system, you can work seven days a week. Also, it can be a far more cost-effective way of doing the job. Unless you are an icon and they specifically want you, many venues will not pay you more if you don’t drive. It’s up to you to work out how to save money. If you can’t drive, book things in advance, get rail cards, look at buses, and make friends with people who might be prepared to give you a lift in exchange for some petrol money. If you can drive… don’t drink! 

14. Do things that scare the shit out of you. For me, it’s theatrical shows and writing new stand-up from scratch. For others, it could be Drag Race, panto, acting… or so much more. Challenging ourselves stops us from getting stale, but at the same time, make sure you give just as much love to your regular gigs and don’t take them for granted.

15. Have fun! This is a very difficult job at times. It can be lonely. Industry people and audiences can be a pain in the arse at times, and wearing drag is physically uncomfortable, sweaty, and minging after long enough… So take those moments on stage where everything is going well, and hold onto them. That’s the reason we do it! And if you get to a point where the frustrations are outgrowing the benefit, then take a break. You don’t need to quit, just put enough drag in a box that you can come back to if you ever want to do it again.

16. Appreciate your audience. Particularly if it’s not a theatre show and they haven’t paid to see you, your job is to keep them in, and keep them spending. They are not required to be there and they are not required to support live entertainment. Have photos with them, have drinks with them, and show them new things which keep them wanting to come back for you next time.

17. Look after you outside of Drag. So many of us forget to buy ourselves new clothes, have our hair done, and socialise outside of Drag! We also forget to prioritise our relationships, romantic, and otherwise! Keep an eye on this, it’s a constant balance, and whilst money is lovely, a life of just drag can get very boring!

I really hope that you find this useful! And I wish you all the luck.

All the love,

Aunty Ginger x