How to Get Booked as a Drag Performer: A King’s Perspective

The Royal Reality of Getting Booked

By Max E. Pad

Getting booked as a drag performer—especially as a drag king—can feel like climbing a rhinestone-covered mountain in platform boots while holding your beard in one hand and your dignity in the other. You spend hours painting your face, sewing your costume, editing your mix, gluing down facial hair… and then someone says, “Oh, sorry, we already have a king this month.”

Cue the deep sigh.

The truth is, there’s no secret handshake or velvet-lined back door that guarantees bookings. But after a couple of years of trial, error, open stages, pageants, networking, and way too many late-night car rides home covered in sweat and spirit gum, I’ve realized it really boils down to three things:

Be entertaining. Be kind. Bring a crowd.

If you can consistently nail those three, you’ll not only get booked—you’ll get rebooked. Everything else (branding, networking, social media) just amplifies what those three pillars build.

 1. Be Entertaining

Talent is your ticket in.

Let’s start with the obvious: if you’re not entertaining, people won’t remember you—and if they don’t remember you, they won’t book you. But being entertaining doesn’t mean you need to do backflips, splits, or reveal twelve costumes (though go off if that’s your thing). It means you have to connect.

A crowd wants to feel something. Make them laugh, cry, gasp, or scream. Make them forget about their phone for three minutes.

For kings, sometimes the challenge is visibility—we don’t have the same media saturation as queens—but that just means our creativity has to speak louder. Whether you’re a comedy king, a rock-and-roll rebel, a dramatic storyteller, a Loverboy, a dancing divo, or a gender-bending conceptual artist, your job is to keep that audience hooked from start to finish. It’s not fair that we have to work harder, but it’s reality and the more that we advocate for each other and promote equality, the closer we will come.

Here’s how to keep upping your entertainment game:

• Find your thing. If your strength is humor, lean in. If it’s dancing, give full choreography. If it’s storytelling, make every number cinematic.

• You don’t have to typecast yourself, just know yourself and what feels good to you. I lean into comedy and story-telling, but I also enjoy performing a heartfelt ballot, sometimes a dramatic creepy number, or sometimes a politically charged activist number. I have found some success in trying to bring two or three different types of performances to each show that I do.

• Keep evolving. Even RuPaul changes wigs. Don’t let yourself stagnate.

• I was told early on that if I have the same face in a year than I haven’t progressed. I look back on my drag a year ago and cringe a little bit, but I hope that in a year I cringe at what I am doing now… I will know that I am still getting better and evolving with the times.

• I hosted King of Drag viewing parties at my local venue, and challenged myself to come up with a new look and song choice each week. Some of them were flops but it really pushed me out of a performance plateau that I felt stuck in.

• Watch recordings of your sets, no matter how cringe. The camera tells you things your friends won’t.

• Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t. Bombing isn’t failure—it’s research.

The best drag isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. I’ve seen performers with $20 outfits bring the house down because they had charisma, connection, and guts. You can’t buy those things at Michael’s.

“You don’t need the biggest budget to make the biggest impression. You just need to make people feel something.”

 2. Be Kind

Professionalism is what gets you rebooked.

Drag is a business that thrives on community. That means your reputation is currency. You can be the most talented performer in town, but if you’re rude, unreliable, or high-maintenance, people won’t want to work with you twice.

Kindness in drag looks like this:

• Follow the show order and respect time limits.

• Don’t trash-talk your castmates backstage or online.

• Be on time.

• Leave your negativity in the car, bring your excitement and joy!

• Thank the host, thank the DJ, and help clean up your mess.

• Limit your consumption – don’t get sloppy drunk or high.

• Offer encouragement instead of criticism—especially to newer performers.

I’ve seen performers lose opportunities not because of lack of skill, but because of lack of humility. The drag scene is smaller than you think; word travels faster than a wig reveal gone wrong.

And honestly? Being kind isn’t about playing politics—it’s about remembering that everyone in that dressing room is giving a piece of themselves to make something magical happen.

There’s already enough competition in the world. Be the reason people feel supported, not stressed.

“A good attitude will take you places a perfect mug never could.”

 3. Bring a Crowd

Bars book what brings money—and energy.

This one might sting, but it’s real: shows are a business. Bars and hosts want performers who fill seats and sell drinks. You could be the most talented person on the planet, but if no one shows up to see you, a bar might pass you over for someone who brings in regulars.

So how do you build your crowd? You don’t have to be Insta-famous—you just have to be visible, engaging, and connected.

Here’s what works:

• Promote your shows early and often. Post the flyer multiple times—different photos, same event.

• Tag everyone involved: the host, venue, and fellow performers.

• Personally invite people. A DM like “Hey! I’m performing this Friday, come hang out!” goes a long way. (but if they are another performer – make sure that you are supporting their shows too)

• Be present at the show—cheer for others, talk to the audience, and make friends after you perform.

I didn’t have very many friends in the community that I started drag in -  it took time, a lot of tip spots and open stages, and creating a social media presence to get recognized.

Your audience doesn’t have to be huge. They just have to be loyal and excited. And when you build that connection, bookers notice. You become an asset.

“A crowd that cheers for you once will follow you anywhere if you make them feel like part of the story.”

 Supporting Skills That Make You Shine

Now that you’ve nailed the Big Three, let’s talk about the extras that turn you from ‘performer’ into ‘professional.’

Know Who You Are

Figure out your drag identity and stick with it. When people hear your name, they should instantly picture your vibe. For me, Max E. Pad is the comedy king who blends humor, camp, and political chaos. People comment all the time that they recognize me by my smile and big hair. That consistency helps bookers know exactly what they’re getting when they book me.

Create a Professional Package

You don’t need a marketing degree—just organization. Have a clean headshot, short bio, and a few performance clips ready. Keep your social media active and separate from your personal account. Make it easy for bookers to see what you bring.

Be Original

Be very careful not to copy the performers that you admire – pull inspiration from everywhere, but if you catch yourself serving looks or performances that are a little too similar to another performers’, that will not only hurt that other performer, but it will hurt you also. Let’s be real- if another performer is already doing that look or performance then you are probably not going to be as good as them, it will become tired and less entertaining from both of you, and you will develop a poor reputation.

Have Fun

Seriously! Take it less seriously! The crowd has fun when you have fun, and backstage is a lot more enjoyable when the performers are having a good time. Practice some techniques to help you let go and reset when you are having a bad day. It happens to everyone – just know that a bad mood will bring down your fellow artists and the crowd. This is something that I still struggle with, and I’m creating some “coping skills” to bring myself into the present when at a show.

Be Clean

Don’t throw your costumes and makeup all over the dressing room, and make sure to clean up after yourself when you’re finished. People notice and a lot of times we are already crammed into a much too small space. Also – make sure to shower & wear clean undies before your show, wash your clothes and costumes, and don’t go too heavy on the cologne… We all get nose – blind, and telling someone they are smelly is so difficult that most of us just don’t, but it’s noticed – and again, we are usually smooshed into a small space for a dressing room. This is performance art, we ALL sweat, just do your best to keep clean.

Network Without Being Pushy

Support other performers genuinely. Show up to their shows, compliment their work, and share their posts. This is so important, just showing up and supporting shows increases your visibility and shows that you are a supporter – that you are in it for the love of drag, not the money (cause spoiler - we don’t get sh*t). You’ll be amazed how many opportunities come from being a kind face in the crowd rather than a name in someone’s inbox.

Use Social Media

You will hear a lot of the performers that have been at it a while talk about what it was like getting booked before social media, but it’s 2025 – you need a social media presence to be booked. Many show hosts will reach out via Facebook or Instagram, and whichever one the host favors, they might start a group chat – so it behooves you to be on multiple platforms.

Use Open Stages & Competitions Wisely

Open stages are free auditions. Show up prepared and treat it like a booked gig. Competitions teach you how to polish, perform under pressure, and take feedback with grace… if feedback isn’t offered, reach out and ask for it. Even if you don’t see a host in the crowd, it’s highly probable that they know many of the people in the crowd and trust their judgement. There will be videos and pictures being taken – and all of that will likely end up on social media, which will likely end up on a host’s algorithm… just sayin’… have fun and take advantage of the open stages and competitions.

Constantly Bring Something New

People don’t want to see the same number that you did at the last 3 gigs, try to bring something new… Re-using material, concepts, and costumes is inevitable but you want to try to limit that. I bring tried and true numbers to towns or venues that I haven’t used them at before or at a time that I know brings a different crowd.

Promote Every Gig

Once you’re booked, act like you’re the show’s biggest fan. Hype up the event online, interact with people in the comments, and thank your audience afterward. Hosts notice who does the work.

Know Your Worth—but Stay Grounded

You deserve to be paid fairly, but drag is a balance of art and business. Early on, the experience is worth more than the dollars. Over time, your pay should match your pull. Just remember: undercutting others or demanding diva treatment won’t help your longevity. To the kings, we are stuck in a catch 22 situation…. We advocate for representation and a shared platform, yet some hosts will underpay the king, knowing that they can because we struggle to get bookings. So we take the booking, or turn it down and ask for more money (which we probably won’t get). The best solution that I have found has been to have an honest conversation with the show hosts about my concerns. Most of the hosts that have booked me have been very understanding and receptive. Once we point out the pay gap, it’s up to them to decide if they will match kings, queens, and things with the same entertainment value. That said – many performers don’t realize that the pay is just not that good…

Get a Title

Compete at local bar pageants, or if you are up for it & can afford it, compete at a state level & go to nationals. Having a title gives a host something to advertise and an introduction that will hype the crowd. If you have the resources, try to get a title, and even if you don’t end up winning, you will have some solid feedback. I didn’t win my first couple of bar pageants (Mx OhZone and Mr Diesel) but the written feedback that I had gotten from them helped me to improve my package so much that I won the 2024 Illinois America’s King pageant, which led to a lot more bookings, and preparing for nationals definitely elevated my drag.

All Drag is Valid, but Not All Drag is Bookable

Drag is art, and your art is valid, but sometimes art isn’t exactly bookable. Remember to check out the vibes of the venue that you want to be booked at – or – find a show that is booking your style drag. A good show will have a variety of styles, so if you don’t see your style, you can always reach out to see if that show host would include it in their lineup. I guess what I am saying is: some styles are appropriate for certain venues but not all. I host an all ages drag competition in my town, and I make sure to inform the performers that inquire that adult style content is NOT appropriate at that show. I have been told by show hosts to avoid my political numbers at some of their shows, and been sought out by other hosts specifically for my political satire.

 Final Thoughts: The King’s Code

At the end of the day, getting booked isn’t magic—it’s mindset. Be someone who makes the stage, the show, and the community better just by showing up.

If you can entertain the crowd, treat people kindly, and get folks excited enough to come see you, then congratulations—you’ve cracked the code.

You’re not just a performer. You’re a professional.

And remember: kings don’t wait for crowns. We build our own thrones, one booking at a time.