Raven H.
Yelp
(But really, 2.5 stars)
Drag Queens, drinks, free downtown parking! What more could the average good-time-seeking 20 something year old (with the odd Monday off) ask for?
SOME RESPECT, no but seriously, isn't it crazy how a random encounter can just sour your evening? Well let's pump the breaks and allow me to set the tone.
Location is good, tons of foot traffic and a not-so sketchy clientele, the first employees encounter upon entrance for checking coats/bags and paying the super cheap $5 cover were really chill and pretty funny for such a short interaction. Drinks were slung pretty quickly, I didn't hit the bar since my homie and I had just made it over from another bar, but I did notice how fast the folks around me made it to and from the bar area to where the performance was going down.
Now here's where the downsides start to ebb it's way in.
One side of the stage is HAZARDOUS af. There's only maybe four feet between the barred off stage and a wall lined with bathrooms. On one end is the bar and down past the stage leads to the outdoor patio area, it sounds nice but when you've got people crammed in for standing room performances while people squeeze their way along that back wall things just get messy. Somebody dropped a glass while shimmying past me and it shattered, I wore open toed shoes and semi-panicked trying to put some distance between myself and the glass while worrying about every person stepping over it since there was that constant bar to patio to bar traffic.
Now here's my drama alert, Drag shows are my jam and this was far from my first rodeo. I go out to see whichever RuPaul contestants are in town and cheer on our local acts, but I literally felt attacked when the emcee approached me during her own opening number for part two of the show then proceeded to talk trash before introducing the next act.
DONUT COME FOR ME (hail Kim Chi)
She came out to a song I didn't know, that wasn't very hype, and props for looking glam but sorry not sorry I guess I wasn't grinning from ear to ear? I have resting bitch face, whoops. So she says 'it doesn't cost anything to smile' or something like that and it caught me off guard but I laughed.
She then wrapped up her song and went into a tirade about how if you're at the show and you're making a (insert angry emoji) face then you don't need to be there and you should give up your spot so somebody who reaLLY wants to be there can see, which I have a problem with because I made the hour journey to Austin, I paid my cover, and I was sure to time it so that I could get a good spot to watch the show. I actually WAS watching the performance, it's not like I was on my phone checking Facebook or something like that. Dampened my evening after she flicked a glance at me just because it made me hyper aware of my facial expressions the rest of the evening. Every other performer garnered a genuine laugh or smile throughout their performance though, so seems like more of a her problem than a me problem.
All in all MOST of the staff was cool, the local talent was aiight but I can only see myself going back depending on traveling RuPaul talent. I'd highly suggest any Austin folks make the trek instead to the Heat in SA. A way better view, a hilarious MC, and our local talent sometimes rivals the guests of honor.