| I hate Mindless Bitchiness. |
[07 May 2008|11:01pm] |
Now don't get me wrong I know I have a reputation as "The Gobbiest Queen on the Scene" and all that but I am very tired of mindless bitchiness. Having a go at your ex or slagging off someone is all very natural but mindless ill-informed bitchiness is doing my tits in!
Take Leeds Pride for example... The bitchiness has already started even though it's 3 months away. I recently heard people moaning about the fact that the main stage area is going to be in Millenium Square, that it's going to be a two hour event, that venues aren't doing more. that the prices will be too high etc etc etc. And neither of whom have even signed up for the pride minutes let alone attended a meeting.
One of these people also refused to buy a Drag Idol DVD as it was too expensive at £12.99 (despite the fact that the production costs alone were £5.50 per dvd with the rest going to LOCAL HIV/AIDS charities).
I am sick of this attitude amongst some people on the scene. This feeling that the Leeds scene is shit and nothing is happening on it...
BOLLOCKS
I come from a city larger than Leeds with (theoretically) more money, more students and more gays and that has 3 gay venues at last count. THREE. It has no Pride event and everyone buggers off to the surrounding cities on a night out.
Leeds has 7 gay/gay friendly venues plus one off nights happening. It's Pride had 12,000 people in it's 2nd year. It attracts big name DJ's to the scene's club events and draws people from all over the north and yet there is a pocket of boring cynical old twisted SAD fuckers who can't do anything except talk it down!
I love this city and love the scene here - yeah I slag off certain elements from time to time but my advice to those who seem to loathe it so much is simply this: "If you hate it that much do the rest of us a favour - FUCK OFF!"
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| Looking for a new drag showgirl! |
[16 Apr 2008|03:10am] |
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Well, I'm not surprised to be writing this.;
Bubbles has decided to leave the Viaduct Showgirls to concentrate on his other drag commitments elsewhere. We had already discussed this possibility when the other offers came up so it's not a surprise to anyone concerned. I'd like to say a huge thankyou to him for staying true to his word and helping us launch our sunday nights down here at The Viaduct. Without his help the project would never have gotten off the ground and Myself and Miss Jackson wish him all the very best.
What it does mean, however, is that we have a vacancy for a drag queen to come into our cabaret show.
Ideally I'm looking for someone with a little experience on the stage and someone who would be able to commit to working every weekend you do not have to be an existing drag artist but a passion for performing and a willingness to look like a prat at times are vital.
The Viaduct is a fun attitude free bar which whilst being "on the up" as they say doesn't have the huge budgets of some drag venues. Basically we're not looking to do a full on feaher vegas style show as we have neither the budget or the space, our shows are more about having fun and enjoying it.
So if you think you or someone you know will be right for the job get in touch via the website at annaglypta.com or by phone 07856989804.
I will organise auditions soon!
On a different note have you noticed that I have now had over 3000 that's THREE THOUSAND blog views....
3... 000 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
How mad is that?
LOL
Take care people and remember you're a womble!
Anna
XXXXX
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| We’re your Showgirls.... |
[23 Feb 2008|04:52am] |
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Well, it's finally happening...
After years of working the scene as a drag DJ I am FINALLY going back into cabaret. The Viaduct Showgirls sees me teaming up with Bubbles (as seen at Funny Girls and The Birdcage) and Miss Carla Jackson (as seen at Drag Idol 07 and as the hostess at "Homo").
Now when I say going back into what I really mean is "starting" as what I did many, many moons ago was more of a cross between hostessing, stand up and acting.
The Viaduct Showgirls is a full on Drag Cabaret show consisting of 4 fabulous group numbers and 3 solos. It'll run throughout the night on MOST Sundays. Not all... We're going to be taking the odd Sunday off to make way for singers and strippers. We've got an "A" and a "B" show worked out with only one number transferring between the two shows. What's more we have plans to change the solo numbers pretty much every month.
There's more new nights being planned and more random things happening. A website and dedicated facebook and the resurrection of the myspace will all be happening in March too. Added to all this there are plans for the drag version of Loose Women called "Dirty Bitches" to hit a youtube page near you in the very near future.
Talk about a busy bee, my life now consists of budget meetings, costume fittings, music meetings, technical meetings, rehearsals and wig fittings...
and I am loving every damned second of it!
Lookout for my column in SHOUT! again this month, (February's column was sent a little late and I missed the deadline... oops!)
Hugz
Anna Glypta -
The Gobbiest Queen on the Scene!
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| Art Vs Porn! |
[05 Oct 2007|04:13pm] |
The mass media in this country would have you believe that the picture belonging to Sir Elton John of two girls was a dispicable piece of child porn.
I've seen the image.
The photographer Nan Goldin is famous for having been a part of and friends with the transvestite scene in the 80's. Her works are inciteful and often capture those rare glimpses behind the performers mask. It is this honesty and truth that led her to take an image of her own beaten and bruised face a month after suffering from spousal abuse. This self portrait shows her face puffed up and bruised and shows the pain she is recovering from. It is a bizarrrely positive image as she has applied some lipstick. In this moment the line is drawn in the stand and the sense of determination to do more than merely survive and to actually LIVE shines through.
The now infamous "Klara And Edda Belly-Dancing" image is a strange one to look at. Yes indeed it shows two young girls. and yes indeed one of those girls in naked with her legs parted. However, these girls are obviously in the middle of playing. The clothed girl wears a glittery sarong style skirt thing and is in the middle of belly dancing. Her friend is just sprawled at her feet looking up.
The fact that a puritanical mind has found something offensive in this worries and sickens me. Yes we all know that some screwd up sick individuals are capable of thinking bad thoughts about children. These people are sick and twisted individuals. However do we as a culture ban something because someone somewhere may percieve it the wrong way?
The EXACT same concern came over me when my sister had some snaps developed. One of them was a sweet shot of my neice in the bath with her hair wet pulling the sort of face only a two year old can (she doesn't like having her hair washed!). I couldn't keep this photo. As innocent as it was and as nice and silly an image as it was it still was of a naked child and being a gay man I knew what people could make of my owning this image.
Yesterday a friend of mine found some old family pictures and on going through them found shots of her kids naked in the bath and said "you can't do that these days". This is true and very, very sad. The mind police have managed to turn innocent images into "Kiddy Porn". Is it only a matter of time before clothing catalogues use adult little people to model their ranges of underwear or swim wear instead of children?
The thing is the Brassneck spoof was bang on the money. The numbers of child sex offenders has not majorly increased since we were kids or even since our parents were kids. If you don't believe me go look on the net at the figures (I'd include the link to one particular crime stat site here if I could remember it). Just look at how many people came forward in the 80's and 90's to speak of their abuse at the hands of priests or teachers many, many years before. the only thing that has changed is that we are now much better at catching these sickos and recording their crimes. I believe that if anything our kids are SAFER today than they have ever been.
Ok, so, I know that some of you are going to be saying "oh, what about poor Maddie" and my response to this is simple. I believe that our kids are safer as long as you don't abandon them in the middle of a holiday resort in a foreign country while you go get pissed!
The media likes to whip up storms of protest and unthinking daily Mail readers go along with it all blindly. The photo involved in this furore is not pornographic but nor is it an easy image to look at. The reason has nothing to do with the image itself but because of the societal strappings that go along with this sort of picture. We are supposed to feel that it is wrong to look. But my question is over the context. One image taken out of context could have a whole other meaning. In the context of this exhibition of 60 or more pieces this one picture fits. It shows a cultural play bnetween two young girls. Nothing more nothing less.
The same twisted cultural standards have also seen a massive campaign in the States against DOVE. It seems their adverts featuring a series of naked older women (covering al the contentious bits) caused controversial. "These sorts of images should not be shown to our children they should not be exposed to nudity." they cry. Again I've seen these ads, many of you will have as they ran in prime time Telly slots and all over the UK print media. Apparently some people found them to be offensive. I found them liberating beautiful adverts for deoderant. Nothing More Nothing Less.
It amazes me that in the 21st century we seem to be going back to Victorian (double) standards. The US is leading this and unfortunately it seems where America leads we inevitably follow!
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| Confusion! |
[03 Oct 2007|10:06pm] |
Hi, there seems to be some confusion over my working at the Ice Cream night in Leeds so please allow me to clear something up.
For some reason people seem to think that because Anna Glypta appears somewhere in all her finery that I must work there, this is emphatically not the case. I do not DJ there or promote the night or work there in any capacity although I have been offered a number of roles. I acted as Hostess on the opening night basically being the "door-whore de-jour" and that is it. Last week I was there in the dual capacity of supporting "Ms Mindy De La Hoare"; the nights permanent door hostess and a friend of mine and perhaps more importantly getting pissed with Mr Glypta before going on to Homo and continuing the nights mission of merriment.
I will probably be seen quite often at Ice Cream as Richard and Russ (two of the guys who are organising and DJing) have been friends of mine for a while. Added to this Tracy on the door is a friend and so are many of the people that go there, some of whom I haven't seen on the scene in many years. Richard is the photographer who took the pictures of me in Morrisons and generally flouncing around Leeds a la Divine! Russ is the gayest straight man I think I have ever met. Both these guys and I share a love of weird trashy films, especially John Waters and Divi! Added to that this type of alternative music is what I choose to listen to at home and goes waaaaaay back to my Goth/New Romantic roots many, many dark moons ago!
So, for the Record...
I DO NOT work at Ice Cream.
I DO offer them my continuing love and support and will be there dancing to Bowie and getting pissed from time to time.
I CANNOT get anyone on the guest-list and I CANNOT get anyone a job there but I CAN tell you who you need to shag!
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| BRADFORD PRIDE - I want Candy! |
[07 Sep 2007|02:37pm] |
Hi all...
I have just confirmed my appearance at Candy in Bradford on Sunday. The club is on Sackville Street. Just up from the old S29 club.
Anyways... Your Hostess with the Most Breasts will be hostessing a special PRIDE Karaoke afternoon from 3pm to 9pm but the club is open till 2AM on a Sunday - Wahey. Candy has 2 floors and is a faaabulous venue. As well as myself there will also be the clubs resident DJ and a PA from the International Drag Artiste Miss Penny Change!
As far as the Karaoke goes expect lots of campness, lot's of bad singing and at least 2, 3 or more songs by yours truly. You know what I'm like with a mic in my hands!!! LOL! I'll even have some special little treats in store!
I hope to see as many of you (Especially you faaabulous Glyptanites) there as possible.
This is the LAST Pride event in our region. Let's show them support!
Anna Glypta
xXx
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| Amazing |
[06 Sep 2007|05:10am] |
Most of you will know that I am a lover of the 'net and all things www. I am LOVING myspace at the moment and the opportunities it provides for networking and talking to people on a very equal footing. The one thing about it that amazes me is people's apparent lack of common sense when it comes to the isssue of drugs. I'll tell you what I mean... One of my friends has a pics gallery full of photo's of them and their friends getting totally fucked up on everything from ket to coke, pills to booze. No one can deny that drug use happens on the gay scene and on the clubbing scene as a whole but what amazes me is peoples apparent lack of concern over the photo's of them indulging. It's one thing to see Kate Moss with a load of white powder up her hooter but it's different to see that from a random person on myspace. The difference is her bosses don't care too much about her private life as long as she stills grabs headlines and makes them a tonne of cash. I wonder how long it is before someones blog or gallery land them in serious bollocks.
I've been around the club scene for 13 years so have seen most things that could possibly go on in a clubs toilets. I was still shocked to see someone stumbling out of a loo in a club with coke or ket all over their nose and then offer the bag to someone in the queue. Needless to say the bouncer that was watching got rid of the girl but it still surprised me. Drugs used to be everyone's dirty little secret now it appears to be some sort of badge of honour, you read in people's blogs and comments "I took 7 pills last night", "yeah well I did a bag of ket AND 4 pills". Bizarre!
I was talking to someone the other day about this whole issue and they agreed thay there is a certain amount of hypocrasy when it comes to the issue of drugs. Most of us at some point have tried something or another and we all know people that use drugs on a weekend without ever having had a bad experience or becoming hooked on smack. But people need to be responsible and CAREFULL and look out for one another more than they do.
(Can I just say about Ket... why anyone would take shitloads of a drug that makes them sit and totally mong out when they've just paid £15 to get into a club and hear a particular DJ is totally beyond me.)
No-one wants a drag queen spouting health advice so I won't all I'll say is for G_Ds sake make sure you have people around you if you get fucked up and don't get too taken with the idea that everyone is as liberal about drug use as you and your friends. The police and club owners aren't to name just two and as the students are back in town this month, expect raids!
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| Ask Anna! |
[31 Aug 2007|04:48am] |
Hi I recieved a message on myspace and I thought I'd post it and my response onto my blog as it's stuff I get asked all the time.
Hiya Anna,
I'm just writing to ask you a few tips as im trying to 'get my shit together' for drag idol 07'. i'm struggling finding heels for my size, im like a size 10 1/2 and i wanted to also ask you were i can get the eyebrow concealing wax from? i'm really scared and i want to make a good effort and dont want to end up looking like a dogs dinner lol.
got my wig which is gorrgeous, its just need to get myself a nice frock now, i fancy going for a more glam look and fancy a bustier with along matching coloured skirt so it comes together like a ballgown. also, how do i make it look as to iv got cleavage, i mean i have something to work with but i want more, if u kno wat i mean lol.
i would greatly appreciate it if you could help me out in the matter,
Hugs
(Name Removed to protect the not-so-innocent)
Dear Drag Idol Entrant!
Luckily for you, Anna Glypta's School of Drag is OPEN for Business...
Shoes - It depends on how WIDE your feet are. I personally have quite big and quite wide feet. I either have to spend a fortune and go to specialist drag shops and online stores OR go to Evans. Their standard shoes are wider than most and I can get into one of their size 10's easily and into their 9's with a squeeze and a shove! The good thing about Evans is that they are very used to the drag queens coming in to buy and if you ask for a couple of styles/sizes and wanna try them on they're fine with this.
Right as to cleavage - Here are a couple of tips on tits!!
Always buy a bra that is too small by at least one or two sizes around your chest. This will be very tight to wear and if you're not used to it will cause you trouble taking deep breaths. Don't worry you won't die. Next you need your booby of choice... I use toy stuffing stuffed into tights with the ends tied to give me a nipple. A lot of drag queens use bird seed stuffed into tights and some use the commercially available "chicken fillet" things sold in places like Anne Summers. Don't feel you need to buy those silicone breastform things as they are very expensive and to be honest not that long lasting. At the end of the day the combination of tight bra, pulling whatever you naturally have together and then your stuffing of choice should be enough to give you an ample cleavage. Some (MAD) drag queens tape their chests together using anything from surgical tape to duct tape but this hurts like hell to remove and I've never found it to look that much better than without!
The eyebrow concealing wax is available in Homburgs. They're in town about a ten minute walk from the city centre. Google them and they'll give you directions. I don't use this as I have very light and fine eyebrows. If you're going to use this stuff then you'll need a heavier duty foundation. Again Homburgs sell the "Ben Nye" and Grimas ranges of panstick so choose one as close to your natural shade as you can. To get all this off you'll need baby oil as the panstick AND the plastic are designed to stay put. The baby oil causes it all to melt!
Anyways if you go onto my website (annaglypta.com) there's a page in the Drag Archive all about the boy to Girl transformation with other top tips.
Good luck Babes!
If you need any other help - just send me a message!
Luv N' Hugz
Anna Glypta
xXx
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| My Day as DIVINE! |
[24 Aug 2007|06:50am] |
My Day as DIVINE!
Hiya - First of all if you are really young and don't know who DIVINE is please have a look at my friends list and click on the myspace that's been set up for her. (Amazing she has a Myspace considering she's been dead for years... )
So today was the photoshoot with Richard. Now this guy has taken almost nude pics of me in the past and is someone I trust. He's starting this new night called Ice Cream and wanted me to help out on the launch night with a whole bunch of other Drag Queens. Of course I said I would. I can do the launch night but unfortunately due to other commitments can't work it full time. (He is looking for OUTRAGEOUS Drag hostesses by the way...)
As most of you may know my style of the last couple of years has been quite "drag de la femme" not tranny and not too OTT drag. Well, I'm going to start working in a few other places around the North of England and sometimes the look will veer more towards Leigh Bowery/Boy George, and sometimes, like tonight, I will go for the DIVINE look. For my recidencies at The Viaduct I'll keep to a more traditional "femme" drag.
Anyway after talking to Richard and making sure he was UP for it I decided that I wanted to do the full on Divine look and to go for a complete John Waters-eque guerilla film making kinda style. The problem is of course what to wear? In "Female Trouble" Divine has a famous scene (available on youtube) where she struts and vogues across town in this one-sleeve leopard print style outfit and a HUGE wig. This was my inspiration and so cannabalising two leopard print tops into a sort of dress/top-skirt combo with Ra-Ra skirt underneath I set about the make-up.
Now the thing about Divi is that in the early films, and to a certain extent later when she had her pop career, she used to have an outrageously over the top look that is easy to copy but also easy to get wrong (trust me on that!). I went for a combination of the make up styles from Pink Flamingoes, Female Trouble (without the Scarring) and a couple of shots of her from her "pop singer" days!
I think I pulled this off fairly well actually opting for a gold and bronze with black effect rather than going for brighter colours which is far closer to MY usual look! Anyhow all frocked and made-up the question then is what to do about my hair? I don't particularly like long hair on me so I opted for a spiky dark burgundy style which I combed the life out of and sprayed till it was virtually solid. Richard arrived and off we went, platform shoes safely tucked away. (For the rather epic story of how I got those shoes download the audio podcast on my profile.)
Our first stop was outside Mcdonalds and Pizza Hut. Shit where's a KFC when you need one??? Altogether now... a Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut... McDonalds, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a stomach pump!
Then on to House of Fraser where we got told to stop taking pictures and to stop filming!!! Proper Guerilla stylee!!! Then up towards the Victorian Quarter. It was at this point that a large japanese family on holiday started pointing and saying "Beautiful Lady, You are so Beautiful" and asking for a photo. Needless to say I obliged willingly feeling COMPLETELY DIVINE!
Down to the Victorian Quarter with possibly some of the BEST pictures of me EVER taken. Then I had the idea of getting on a bus. However, the bus never came and the group of rather chav-looking and thick-sounding straight kids put me off that idea. So off we toddle back up towards Morrisons. A quick side stop in Primark to look at some hideousness and a trip into MaccyD's to get an ice cream for some Promo shots and then on into Morrisons.
Once again I got looks. Now you'd think people have never seen a 6ft10 drag queen doing the weekly shop before! We took a few pictures then one of the staff came up to us... "Can you not use the flash please," he sad, "Some people are photo-sensitive and it might cause a fit." Of course we obliged. He could have told us to stop or asked me to get out but he was really nice. A few more pics and a rapidly aching set of feet and we now head towards FAB cafe only to find that it's closed. :( So we decide to call it a day and head back to The Viaduct to see what pics we got!!!
After all the pics were done I had a couple of hours to kill. The lovely Danny Cher Bailey was filling in for Lady Shaun and had produced a music quiz for the night. I decided that as a professional DJ it would be cheating if I entered, so opted to head to the dressing room and touch up the make-up instead.
I'll tell you what dear Blog Readers, I coulda entered... there were songs in this quiz that I was singing along to but did not have the foggiest who sang them... even after a clue or three!
Eventually it was time for me to head to HOMO and to the Bad Drag Ball. Two of the Fed-ettes had come down and our mission was to flier, then meet and greet, then mingle then sort out a load of victims... er... volunteers to be covered in make-up dressed in the sort of outfits your nan used to throw out and fight for the prestigious title of Bad Drag.
We got our victims... er... volunteers and come midnight did the whole reverse Cinderella thing and got them looking... faaabulous. The pics are on my pics page. Just remember one thing, I'm a make-up artist NOT a cosmetic surgeon.
The more people I dragged up the more people were asking for their make-up doing (Even GIRLS) and we soon ran out. hey ho.
The 12 contestants looking resplendant in their frocks and new looks all took to the stage and Miss Dorothy (the surprisingly comfortable HOMO manager Andy) whittled them down with the help of the cheers or boos of the crowd until the final four were picked. Then it was down to the final two (Bubbles and Tom from Fibre) and in a surprise twist both had to perform. In the end the DJ decided the winner and picked Tom who won a bottle of champagne, a bottle of poppers and a HUGE box of choc's. Bubbles and the other three finalists all got choc's. Tom gracefully shared the bubbly with Bubbles.
This was supposed to be a REALLY QUIET night as it's not only the Bank Holiday with all sorts going on but the students are still away and alot of poof's are out of the country with last minute deals. Even so, it was a busy night tonight and the punters and even the staff all seemed to enjoy it.
I love HOMO. I always have. Working it tonight was a lot of fun. If you've never been you are missing a great night out! Coming up is a Fresh-Meat (freshers) night and all sorts of other theme nights...
I'll see you at the next one !!!
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| WOW - Speed Queen was DRAGTASTIC!!! |
[19 Aug 2007|11:35am] |
Ok, Firstly please do me a favour - Stop reading this and check out the video blog - It took me something like 2 1/2 hours to record it because I kept pressing the wrong buttons and kept generally messing up.
Determined, Stubborn or just Pissed... You Decide! LOL
Anyhow it was a fab night. I used to go to Speed Queen years ago and I always enjoyed the night. I never used to have the balls to dress up either in Drag or as a boy but luckily I never got turned away by the fierce Hostesses for looking like a plonk. It was the sort of place where straight boys would hug ya and not in a sexual way. Everyone there was up for a bloody good night out and everyone knew that it was as mixed a club as you are ever likely to find anywhere.
Anyhow, spin the clock forward 8 years and the shy self concious boy has blossomed (???) into the Gobbiest Queen on The Scene. Nowadays I think nothing about walking up and down the city centre, not only in drag but in full on DRAG! Gatecrasher seems to have remodelled Uropa but it was so long ago that I was in there for Sundissential that it was almost like walking into a brand new club, which I suppose it is.
Anyhow the tranny's, the Drag Queens, the T-Girls, the Cross Dressers were all out tonight. The faces may have changed but that special SQ Vibe, that accepting all encompassing, all wecoming buzz is the same. What's more these days the "Fierce Drag Hostesses" are actually friends of mine and weirdly alot of people seemed to know of me even if they didn't know me. Ya know.
That ALWAYS freaks me out btw. When someone says "Oh, YOU'RE Anna Glypta" I always kinda cringe and wonder what stories have done the rounds and who's said what to whom!!! That happened alot tonight! LOL
- Tiara, you looked ACE honey. Buble' you always look ridiculously good. Anya it was good to see ya again girl. Ms Karma Blythe you had a bigger closet than John Travolta and Tom Cruise combined... I mean, HOW many outfits??? Kas, it was really nice to meet you properly. And Mr Straight Boy (Dave/Dale???) I'll see YOU soon!!!
Think I may well have to become a regular.
Right, I'm off to bed before I collapse!!!
See ya guys, gals, and all those in between!!!
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| AUDIO PODCASTS ARE GO!!! O' Frabjous Day! Callooh! Callay! |
[18 Aug 2007|08:14am] |
AT LAST!!!! IT WORKS!!!!
What the hell am I talking about?
Audio Podcasts that's what. All you need to do is go here - http://annaglypta.podbean.com
You can now download audio Podcasts direct to your PC or listen to them from my new site. You could even subscribe to them in iTunes so as soon as one is uploaded you'll get it direct to your PC.
Have a listen to the first one. PLEASE leave me a message and let me know what ya think!!!
As if a Website, Myspace, Blogs, Magazine Column and Video Blogs weren't enough!!! All I need now is my own Radio show or Late night TV...
I'm ready for my close-up Mr DeMille!
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| Taking Care OF Business! |
[15 Aug 2007|04:00am] |
I seem to have taken my eye off the ball.
With all the work for Leeds Pride and now Drag Idol taking over my life not to mention the Pride Awards/Winter Pride and The Panto all needing my time I seem to have forgotten some important things.
I am now ONLY at the Viaduct on a Friday and Saturday and whilst this gives me Sundays off to persue other gigs I have realised a few things and have allowed myself to get complacent in Leeds.
So the thought is once again entering my head about that job offer and whether I could really survive without my late night taxi's, Take-aways and Nightclubs. Not to mention whether I want to lay down those kind of roots yet.
I think my career is too knife-edged right now for me to leave Leeds just yet. The BBC thing was good exposure and all the charity stuff in the next 6 months will give me even more press but the big question is how best to move forward and what sphere to move into. I have a couple of weddings booked this year and a few other bits and bats but apart from that I really have not been pushing as hard as I needed to.
So If I become a bit of a media whore in the next few months you'll know why! It's cos I am trying to kick start some life into my tired old carcass. One thing that may well be changing again is my look, not for The Viaduct and not for other "official" Anna Glypta work but there is a lot more to me than cheesey fucking ABBA songs and crap pop. My love of Divi and Leigh Bowery are pulling me in a very distinctive diretion at the moment. One that doesn't quite fit with Ms Glypta. I'm also due into the recording studio with Khian... AS A BOY!
Maybe it's Chrysalis time again... We'll see.
One thing's for sure, I have a lot of work ahead of me if I want to be taken seriously as a performer.
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| LEEDS PRIDE 2007 - FULL BLOG! |
[10 Aug 2007|03:54am] |
Some of you will know that I've been on the steering team behind Leeds Pride since the first plans were made. What a lot of you won't know is that my Leeds Pride 07 started way back after Last years event.
We have been in planning meetings and managers meetings to try to take on board all of the comments both positive and negative from last years event. We wanted to grow Leeds Pride as an event whilst making sure it stayed a FREE, FUN, COMMUNITY day out for all. There were discussions about a main stage there were discussions about funfairs and all sorts of other things but to be honest it was felt that the success of the first year lay not with the frilly bits but with the core of the event which was a very visual Parade of LGBT people through the heart of our city followed by the biggest queer party Yorkshire has ever seen!
So that's the background to the event. But how was Leeds Pride for me ???
Well... I started at 7:00 on Sunday morning. Alarms going off like you wouldn't believe and that feeling of being a child on Christmas morning.
After three cups of super strength fairtrade coffee I woke up Bubbles and we ventured into town. We got to the Viaduct at half 8 when people were still exiting Mission through our courtyard. The cleaner hadn't been in yet so bubbles grabbed a broom while I ran up to the dressing rooms to start getting the place ready for the many many drag queens who were about to descend on us.
At just before 9 Hayley arrived with the flatbed truck and I went outside. Now just let me explain something. We were due to be doing the parade with a double decker bus but it had gone for it's MOT the week before Pride and whilst up on the winchy thing the oil tank kinda went spplsllsplaplaplpppasoooooossssssssssshhh ! Yup the bloody thing failed it's MOT! Ian the guy who was lending it to us was devastated poor love, so the rather smaller flatbed was a last minute back-up plan.
Anyhow, I start to decorate the van having no idea what to do as I had planned for a Bus. At this point various Lesbians and Gay Bois start turning up to either help cook or help EAT a breakfast (or two). We are also joined by the Lovely Miss Blanche and Miss Precious from The Birdcage and the equally Lovely Danny Cher Bailey. So off they toddle upstairs to start getting their faces on.
A few rainbow flags, Pink Union Flags, Banners and swathes of material later and the van is about as ready as it'll ever be. The helium valve didn't come with the helium bottle so we are noticeably lacking in the balloon department BUT we turn to Religion and our prayers are answered. (Thanks Robbie)
At this point I realise that I am still in need of a shave and make up and that we need to leave in about 40 minutes. Shit, Shit, Shit, SHIT!!!
So I run upstairs and do the fastest transformation I have ever done, the Birdcage girls look stunning as they've had about 9 hours to get ready and an entourage of make-up artists, plasterers and scaffolders. I, on the other hand, have more than a passing resemblance to my mother! Not so good.
Anyways, we all board the flat bed together with Jon from Clonezone looking VERY sexy as a kind of Short Welsh Bond and a load of our regulars. It's at this point that the reality hits and I realise that a non-sided vehicle filled with assorted LGBT folk is not really the safest mode of transport so passing Millenium square I order most people off and ask them to wait for us at the start of the Parade. Mandy and the Sumo-minge-eaters and the others happily oblige realising that this is one white knuckle ride they don't want to be a part of.
Tracy our driver then hit's the gas and with wigs and balloons a-flying we head to Woodhouse Moor to meat the Pride convoy.
After a quick round of pictures we are all back in our vehicles and heading towards the parade. Somehow we managed to pick up three rather fit guys... well, that's what happens on a van full of drag queens. And as for Ms Danny Cher Bailey's blatant and flagrant attempts to get into the ambulance drivers knickers, all I can say is ... You go Girl!
And then it's the Parade. We pick up our Via-dykes, Minge-Eaters, Mr Gay UK's, Glypanites, Boiz in Pantz, My Sister and nieces and assorted other regulars and with a slight bump we are on our way.
Now those of you who read my Pride Blog last year will know that I am a sentimental old queen at heart and therefore it'll come as no surprise when I tell you that once again I felt a tear or two welling up as ahead of us THOUSANDS joined the procession. The noise, the crowds, the colour. Once again the sense of relief and joy is almost overwhelming. We did it guys!
The anticipated 20-30 Christian Voice protestors turned out to be 5 rather sad looking individuals and one little girl who seemed to want to join in the parade! I felt rather bad for blowing an airhorn in their faces but then seeing as I'm apparently going to Hell anyway I thought I'd go in style!
The parade route had been extended this year and we'd also decided to go at a slower pace but even so the parade is over all too soon and it's time to go to work. I head back to The Viaduct with my hifi, generator and assorted stuff being carried by the whole team and head upstairs to change. My hand-made, Made-to-Measure, Shirley Bassey frock was slightly too big even tho it'd already been taken in. That's what the Atkins Diet and three weeks of stress do to you!
So I change into a tame black and white number and run back down to start DJ-ing. At this point the pub is PACKED. Little did I know it would stay this way ALL DAY!
I stop and pose for pictures with... well everyone I think and soon the place is dancing and chilling and everyone seems to be having a whale of a time. Hayley and ALL our staff are on the bar, including one of the company bosses! We are that busy.
Before I know it it's 6 oclock and DJ-Tez comes in so I can help MS Nova China get her face on and so I can prepare for our Out & Proud Cabaret Debut!
Lady Shaun and the Fed-ettes are all upstairs in various states of undress as they too are in the process of changing and re-applying their makeup. The heat is taking it's toll on all of us and no sooner had I applied Ms China's face had it all slipped onto her T-shirt. Quick dab of foundation and an industrial strength fixative later and I hear the crowd going mad downstairs for the lovely Hannah Jones.
Now I really wanted to see her set and I think about going downstairs but seeing as I am stood in my tights, knickers and what remains of my make-up I think better of it. By all accounts she was fabulous. Thank You Hannah so much for bringing a touch of proper class to the evenings festivities!
I fix my face and get ready when Lady Shaun offers to resurrect an old routine and perform for us.
Of course I jump at the chance! I've just got time to sort out our wigs and frocks for our quick change and tro sort our dressing room downstairs before I have to announce the first of our Drag Cabaret turns, the reigning Drag Idol Winner Ms Karma Blythe. She does a fabulous routine to all That Jazz from Chicago and then It's our turn. The lights and the heat are making life really tough for our stage Double-Act debut but we get through the numbers and actually enjoy it. As does the crowd. (If anyone has any Photo's PLEASE contact me as I didn't have time to organise any.) Then it's the Fabulous Lady Shaun's turn and she does a favourite of mine... "Liza with a Z". And she does it as a cross between Straight Drag and a Fedette which is Brilliant. Then Miss Nova China comes back on to do her version of Ms Bassey and then that's us done for Cabaret for the night.
I have just enough time to change frocks into something cooler before DJ-ing through till close. The heat is intense but the bar-staff are all working themselves ragged. It's around this time that Hayley announces we have completely ran out of all drought beer. So we switch to a bottle/Spirits bar and STILL the queues are 4 and 5 deep at the bar. The night continues with people dancing away and all the silly songs start to come out.
At just after eleven Hayley makes the decision to close. We had virtually run out of spirits and bottles and so we do the unthinkable and close early. The staff look like the survivors of some sort of Running Man event.
My plans to go on to Queer Kandi come to an abrupt end when I make a fatal mistake and sit down, realising that I can no longer move my legs.
I would like to take this Opportunity to thank EVERYONE who came out for Leeds Pride. Everyone who took part in the Parade and Everyone who made the Gay Quarter so incredibly busy.
I've been part of many Pride events over the years both as one of the team and as someone going along to enjoy myslef and I have never felt a Buzz like this years Leeds Pride.
Can I personally thank all those on the organising team for all their hard work throughout the year and all the Staff and the regulars at The Viaduct for making my time here so far the most enjoyable of my working life.
Here's to the next Leeds Pride Event!
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| Media Whore's Galore! |
[04 Aug 2007|02:50am] |
Hello one and all...
Firstly you are all a bunch of buggers... I said I'd have my head shaved if you raised enough for Leeds Pride and you gave me £114.57 so I am now BALD!
Do I look like a twat or what. But when anyone asks at least I look like a twat for a good cause!!!
What a strange day today has been...
Started off with my crawling out of bed then realising it wasn't my wallpaper staring back at me. No I was looking at what could only be described as a "Feature wall" in other words a load of old crap slung on a canvas and hung in front of the bed! Now I don't know about you lot but I always have that momentary panic before you look to see who it is you're sharing a duvet with. Well, I'm in such a charitable mood I could have givben almost anyone the night of their lives last night. No it's ok I can see a hairy chest so it's either a man or a girl in real bad need of HRT!
Turns out it was just my friend "Red" and we had only fooled about a bit before I fell into a dead slumber... (Good job actually he's built like a porn star!). Thank The Gods!!!
So I get dressed and leg it home in time for a shower and then off to the Viaduct to get frocked! Yup it's barely three oclock and I am applying the miniscule amount of make-up required to make me look stunning.
Then I meet Ms Daisy DuPont and off we toddle to OXFAM of all places as we are promoting their new Trans aware night. So Ian White and a TV crew (One Camera-man) turn up at nearly five and we do this little interview thing for Look North. Me and Ms DDP browsing the rails and then saying our little bit to camera. (Thank the GODS the Atkins has been doing such a good job!!!)
So that's all in the bag and then we do a little "still to come" bit and then that's that. THEN... Off we head in a taxi to BBC Radio Leeds for ANOTHER interview on the Drive Time slot. By this time Ms DDP and I are old media whores so we 're far more relaxed and take it all in our stride. Quickie Ten minute piece then back to the shop. We just about get our sling backs off when the Print people turn up!
The photographer from Reuters seems to be compiling a fetish Drag Directory as he takes hundreds of pictures from all sorts of... interesting... angles. At one moment it seems like it's all about to turn into a Sunday Sport shoot when the man from the YEP turns up. He hurries us outside for a couple of quick shots and then it's back inside for some Foot shots... (Don't ask...!)
Needless to say Ms DDP and I then get a hundred text messages saying "ere, did I just see you on TV???"
And then it's off to The Viaduct and Work!
Can I just say to all our regulars and all our irregulars as well... Don't You just LOVE our new Look! OMFG We look stunning!!!
Anyhoo How was your Friday?
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| Scissors, Pink Picnic & Pride! |
[01 Aug 2007|02:55am] |
OMFG !!!!
What an AMAZING concert.
The warm up was........... from................ singing ............... (dunno).
The scissors hit the stage, the crowd surged, my head soared and away we go...
I have not enjoyed a concert like it... Ever!
I danced non-stop the whole time and ended up so exhausted I had to drink a beer - just for the vitamins you understand!
If you ever get the chance to go see them GO! I can virtually gaurantee you'll enjoy it. Many thanks to Pappa Bear, Babby Pappa and Meldy! Hugz and Kisses.
We also attended the 21st Pink Picnic in Huddersfield. The weather was warm but windy and it would have been a great day had some thieving toe-rag not nicked my digital camera from it's pouch on my hip!
I was and AM gutted about that. My camera was my life and right now I can't afford to get a new one AND pay rent! Bugger - Bugger - Bugger! That's what I get for spending over £250 on bloody dresses for Pride!
Ah Well.
We've almoist finished the mini makeover at the pub and it's looking stunning. For Pride we have the walls decorated in the rainbow colours and our new Stage Dancefloor, Sound - system and Lights all look amazing. You will not reconize the place I'm telling you!
We've also got a fantastic PA from Hannah Jones. Anyone who's been in will have heard me playing her version of I am w0hat I am and Young Hearts. She is a talented performer and has had loads and loads of club hits and to borrow a line from Chorley FM has come in many gay mens ears! She'll be on at 9pm after Miss Nova China and I do the first half of our Cabaret Show.
It's really looking to be an AMAZING day and I am so excited I think I just had a little wee. I'm looking forward to BIG HUGZ from the Via-Dykes, Mandy's Minge Eaters and all the bois!
Whilst I've been working on this years Pride with the team for nearly a year expect me to be a little overwhelmed by it all... and if it's anything like last years success I'll be blubbing in some toilets somewhere!
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| Rehearsals and my poorly Feet! |
[29 Jul 2007|08:41am] |
Not sure I'm going to make it to Pride in one piece!
Firstly our Bus developed a bloody oil leak in the middle of the test centre so we don't have that! We are now frantically securing alternative transportation... (Me in a Morrisons shopping trolley)
As well as that I have been rehearsing like mad!
As I keep saying I am teaming up with the runner up of Drag Idol 2006 for "Out & Proud". So far all we've done is go through the two new dance numbers and come up with some moves that even I can manage. It is actually looking good.
The only problem is that the only place big enough for us to rehearse in is a local scout hut and that means climbing in through a very small window at 4 in the morning with feather boas and sequins all askew! The things I do.
Nah... I'm only kidding....
It's a church hall not a scout hut!
But I digress. It's all looking to be going fairly well so far and we're both excited about performing to all you lovely people out there.
If I don't update before I'll see you at Leeds Pride!
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| Biting of nails and gnashing of teeth... |
[19 Jul 2007|07:29pm] |
Pride is now only just over 2 weeks away!
GULP!
Where did the time go?
Went for my first dress fitting yesterday, it's going to be FAAABULOUS. Made to measure in... well, you'll have to wait and see but it looks stunning.
There are all sorts of rumours doing the rounds of the scene about Pride and the involvment of certain venues. Let me say publicly that as far as I am aware ALL the scene venues are donating money and ALL the scene venues will be putting on an extra special day in their own way.
Hmmm, does that sound like a political answer to you?
Not like me at all?
Maybe I've been cloned?
Who knows? It'll all come out in the wash as my nan used to say... it usually does.
All I'll say is that Pride is bigger than the gay scene in Leeds, It's bigger than any of the scene venues, bigger than any of the individuals in Leeds. Pride is about working together to achieve something pretty damned fantastic. Slowly the area of Lower Briggate and Call Lane is being known as the Gay Quarter and slowly lgbt's from other big gay cities are coming to Leeds for a night out!
As well as the political, personal and community reasons to be part of pride let alone the "chance to give something back", these business reasons *should* be enough for everyone to be jumping on board Pride and the proposed Winter Pride Awards Ball.
I guess in 16/17 days time... We'll See!
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| Pod casts - VS Video Blogs... |
[17 Jul 2007|10:04pm] |
OOOhhh There's nothing like a queen to get my goat!
Apparently my podcasts or Drag-casts as I sometimes call them are not podcasts at all but actually video-blogs... Well apart from not liking that phrase much as it's too cumbersome I'm afraid they are PODcasts as you can download them onto your video iPOD. I've not yet found an easy way to record sound or I'd start Radio Glypta.
Anyways... whatever they are called there will be some more coming soon. Just got to find time to do them and get them on. If anyone out there works in media in TV or just has an interest in it and has a video camera please get in touch as I am looking into possible projects and would love some nice video content!
Anyhow - preparations are going well for ViaPride! Our bus is coming together as is the plans for the rest of the day. Looking likely to have a Navel officer DJ too... I know what you're thinking about me and uniforms but he's only going to wear it cos it's a James Bond theme! Honest!
Got to run now going to take the doggy for a walk!
xXx
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| LEEDS PRIDE 2007 - AUGUST 5TH |
[13 Jul 2007|12:58am] |
Leeds Pride is just a 3 weeks away now.
I can't wait. The Viaduct will have our lights and mini stage done by then so that should be good.
We have our very own Busino Royale in the parade and this is going to be full of drag queens, Boys in pants and the "Legendary Via-Dykes"! We also have a very special look for Ms Bubbles lined up which is worth coming out for alone!
After the parade we've got the final and semi final of the pool comp, plus the wet t-shirt/boxers comp... plus we got live performances by The Winner and The runner up of Drag Idol 2007. I've also asked my ex, a professional singer and performer, to come over from Scarborough. So that'll be good if SHE does come over!
I'll be singing a couple of new tracks and also doing some cabaret. As well as spinning the best mix of music on the scene!
And... I got my frocks sorted! Hooray for dressmakers and prom dress shops!!!
I can not wait...
See you all there!
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| What a weekend ! |
[09 Jul 2007|09:10pm] |
Wow! I have only just begun to think straight after a MAJOR weekend!
Friday was ok at the pub. Some nice people in and a few dishy boys for me to play with and that's always fun. Also had news about our little mini refurb so that's good. Because I'd travelled back from Southampton all day I went home after work and actually went to bed at a decent time. Saturday was MAD!!! A really fun night but also bloody busy ALL night! Afterwards I went over to The Penny for my usual half a shandy. I got a little ratted! Last night was fun at the pub... nice crowd and again popped into the Penny after... didn't leave till closing time (2:oo) and then a few of us went back to Jeffs' with vodka (and diet coke for me). Left his place at about quarter to Eleven this morning! That's after singing, talking, crying, massaging, healing, flirting, groping, ogling, photographing and generally having a night with friends. I must say a few months ago I never thought that I'd be speaking to them let alone be massaging a certain door-person at silly oclock in the morning! I've missed the friendships that we had at the Penny and am very grateful to those true friends who've come through the political BULLSHIT and who are important to me. They know who they are... Most of them were at Jeffs'... and some of them were NUDE!!!!!!!!!
This seems like a good time to sort out a rumour that's been doing the rounds. I have no plans to go back and work at The New Penny. I'm loving The Viaduct too much for that. I am happy where I am and the challenge that I undertook is hard work but also very rewarding. When we see the crowds getting busier week by week and we see the pub turning that corner and being taken seriously as a venue (but not a serious venue... if ya get my drift) it shows that I made the right decision. I've been asked so many times over the last month about returning but to be honest I can't see that happening any time soon especially when we've got so many things in the pipeline. I have said that at some point for charity it'd be good if all the scene (drag) DJ's worked together and maybe did a joint set or something...
The scene in Leeds is a strange but wonderful place. I've had conversations with people from pretty much every venue and we all agree that working together to put Leeds on the gay map and to sell ourselves as a gay destination is important and is something that we should do but politics gets in the way and everyone seems to want to protect their own slice of the pie rather than get a whole new cheesecake! August sees our second Pride and I say here and now and publicly that I am proud of how the scene in Leeds has pulled together, sure there've been issues but it's all happening. I am proud to be associated with Pride. I am proud to have been associated with The Penny and I am proud of where The Viaduct is heading... And they say Prides a sin!
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