Places in the US that will host a queer lady magician
August 22, 2019 4:44 PM   Subscribe

Which venues, cabarets, events, etc in the US (besides the West Coast) should I reach out to about performing some queer feminist stage magic in/around March 2020?

I've been accepted to be part of a QTIPOC spoken word & performance roadshow touring the US West Coast in March 2020. As I'll be coming all the way from Australia, I'm thinking of making it more of a nationwide tour for maybe about a month (the West Coast tour is 2 weeks) and would like some suggestions on other places that would be keen.

I'll be performing snippets from my queer feminist stage magic & storytelling show so I'd be looking at 10-15 min slots or maybe a short 20-30 min segment, mainly as part of a larger lineup (I don't think I'm well-known enough to warrant a solo night). The event doesn't have to be QTIPOC-specific, though I'd imagine I'd get more traction with a queer/feminist/alternative space than mainstream stage magic (that being said, if a mainstream magic event wants to host me I'm all ears). Because of my visa (a multiyear one which I already have thank goodness) I can't really be paid, but covering expenses such as interstate travel (or hell even contributing ahead of time to my airfare from Australia) should be fine.

Now is probably pretty early to start making bookings, but as I'll need to lock down airfare soonish it'd be good to have a base plan in place!
posted by divabat to Media & Arts (27 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Pittsburgh is very rad. It's the west coast of the east coast.... I don't live there anymore but it seems like you'd fit right in. Could be en route to East coast...
posted by PistachioRoux at 4:57 PM on August 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


I've had friends who have had events at Bier Baron
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 4:57 PM on August 22, 2019


In St. Louis, the place you're looking for is The Monocle in the Grove.
posted by topher74 at 5:06 PM on August 22, 2019


In Minneapolis maybe try the Cedar Cultural Center.
posted by look busy at 5:08 PM on August 22, 2019


If you want to make that month mid-February to mid-March, I'm sure the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference (MBLGTACC) would love to host you.
posted by brook horse at 5:21 PM on August 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Come to the Pinhook here in Durham!
posted by oceanjesse at 6:02 PM on August 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


From Mr. Dinty (vaguely involved in the magic community in Minneapolis, doesn't perform)

Two possibilities in Minneapolis:

Sunday Night Magic - Theater in the Round, looking for a half hour set, less storytelling. The main booker for that is Suzanne the Magician, and you should contact her for more information. (She might also have more ideas of where to perform in the area). There's also a 'flight time' program, though that doesn't sound quite like what you're looking for.

There's also the Magic Underground, but that's more of an open mic night.

If you want more specific contact info, I can see if he's willing to reach out to folks. (I can also ask more around the folks I know in the queer theater community in Minneapolis, but there's been serious issues around getting funding and spaces going under the last few years, so I don't know how fruitful that might end up being).
posted by dinty_moore at 6:13 PM on August 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Interesting, @oceanjesse! I was going to suggest Arcana here in Durham! Clearly we have a wealth of appropriate venues. :)
posted by kickingthecrap at 6:29 PM on August 22, 2019


Just a quick google but Northampton Ma looks to have an open mic night that could work if you're in that direction.

I remember your first question about magic on the green and I really want to see your show! I'm actually more towards Boston (couple hours drive) but not sure there's a venue, hmm... Club Cafe seems to have a monthly open mic but it's a pretty commercial place. Probably worth a query.
posted by sammyo at 8:02 PM on August 22, 2019


New York City The Slipper Room and Coney Island USA come to mind. These venues lean much more heavily toward the sexy and risque, though I have seen things that were not overtly sexual at both venues. Both have regular burlesque performances.
posted by bilabial at 8:02 PM on August 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Given that my signature act is the Cups and Balls with menstrual cups, sexy and risque is totally up my alley!

Conferences are a good idea too, especially since they probably are more likely to be able to provide travel funding. Is there a more up to date list of queer/feminist/etc conferences available? I did some googling but I keep getting stuff from 2015 at the latest.
posted by divabat at 8:16 PM on August 22, 2019


I wonder if this might be a help?

https://innovationwomen.com/
posted by tilde at 9:41 PM on August 22, 2019


In Austin Texas I can recommend:
The Museum of Human Achievement
The Contemporary
The Vortex Theater
Cheer Up Charlie’s
posted by nikaspark at 10:18 PM on August 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


MoHA (museum of human achievement) gets funding from Austin cultural arts commission and supports artists with multiple types of residency programs. please reach out to them. Hell you can name drop me and say I sent you their way. My name is Annika Sparkles.

link to list of all their inquiry forms

link to the specific residency application
posted by nikaspark at 10:24 PM on August 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


If you make it to the midwest, I bet The Back Door in Bloomington, Indiana would love to schedule you.
posted by amelioration at 3:38 AM on August 23, 2019


Queer conference list!
posted by brook horse at 6:56 AM on August 23, 2019


In Atlanta, you probably would do well to talk with Metropolitan Studios / The Atlanta School of Burlesque / Candybox Revue - these are all run by overlapping groups of women / queer people and they basically know everyone in the scene in ATL.

You might also reach out to Sadie Hawkins.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:21 AM on August 23, 2019


College and University campuses often have comedy/theater/improv/performing arts opportunities, so look into nearby institutions if you want to head to a specific club but will end up with free time out there.

If you do come out to Northampton, MA as suggested above, check also with Smith College and Mount Holyoke College (historically feminist, all-women's colleges in Northampton and South Hadley nearby). Probably Student Events Committee or Office of Student Engagement or even the department Study of Women and Gender at Smith. I don't know MHC as well, but maybe Student Involvement or Gender Studies. There's three other colleges--University of Masschusetts, Amherst; Amherst College; and Hampshire College in the same radius. And Northampton has several theater/performance spaces that might also be worth looking into their schedules: Academy of Music and the Iron Horse Group are the big ones. I've gone to queer events at The Parlor Room. Or maybe this is the sort of thing an independent feminist sex shop would be interested in: Oh My.
posted by carrioncomfort at 9:48 AM on August 23, 2019


The Comedy Studio in Somerville, MA (Boston) has multiple open mic and showcase events every week, and I’ve seen queer and trans comedians there and comedians of color (don’t remember if there was any overlap) and for a while they had magic every Tuesday night although that seems to be over.
posted by mskyle at 10:24 AM on August 23, 2019


I think this would be a hit at the Allways Lounge here in New Orleans.

Note: Mardi Gras falls on February 25 in 2020 so if you end up in this area earlier than March, keep that in mind. Alternately: show up for Mardi Gras, do a show during your visit.
posted by komara at 10:54 AM on August 23, 2019


Oh please come to Portland Maine! We have a decently lively burlesque/drag scene so sexy fun shows would be well received. I would suggest SPACE Gallery, Portland House of Music and Events, and perhaps contacting Indigo Arts Alliance (POC) or Portland Pride (queer) for programmatic support. Pleeeeease. You could do Boston, Portsmouth (New Hampshire), and Portland all at a nice easy run.
posted by donnagirl at 1:04 PM on August 23, 2019


Response by poster: komora: omg actually yesterday I found out that Gay Mardi Gras is a thing in NOLA (not the Sydney version) but their website had no contact details. Who should I talk to??
posted by divabat at 7:50 PM on August 23, 2019


MeMail sent.
posted by komara at 6:57 PM on August 25, 2019


For Denver, check out the Mercury Cafe.
posted by rewil at 3:19 PM on October 9, 2019


Response by poster: Update: so I've sent emails to the suggested universities and conferences (I want to see if I can lock those down first before I go hard on venues) but oddly enough even though it's been a few weeks I haven't heard anything. Not even a No or "Thanks for your enquiry". Just silence.

Is there a particular format I should be sending these in? Am I missing something?
posted by divabat at 5:10 PM on October 23, 2019


Given the time difference and possible cost, would follow-up phone calls be possible? I've found that for busy offices, a phone call can get immediate responses that three emails can't. Another possibility would be locating a different department within the universities or a different point person. Student organizations may be more active on social media than over email, so that's also an option.
posted by carrioncomfort at 8:06 AM on October 24, 2019


Response by poster: carrioncomfort: For both of those reasons, unfortunately phone calls are beyond my reach.
posted by divabat at 1:28 PM on October 24, 2019


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