New faces

Making a living out of the art of dressing as a lady has always been hard. I’m really not sure how the natural women do it every day of their lives.

Not only is it painful most of the time, with feet squeezed into high heels and waist bound into a size 8, but it can also be very painful in the purse department.

From head to toe, there are needs to be attended to and, if you haven’t been lucky enough to be gifted in the hair or costume design department, money seems to fly away.

Over the last five to 10 years we have seen the demise of many venues that employed us lovely trans creatures, leaving many of us out of work and our purses bare. This is why I am a huge supporter of any new venue (or existing one) that has showgirl entertainment, not only giving us a place to show our wares but fuelling up our dusty wallets.

In the last year or so, we have seen the fabulous Slide shine like a brand new star at the bottom of Oxford Street. The rebirth of the Flinders Hotel, proves that everything old can be new again, and still as fabulous as ever.

And reaching off the Golden Mile, Mr Mary’s has blossomed smack bang in the middle of Redfern, giving locals a place to have a quiet shandy and show without venturing all the way to Oxford Street. Cabaret, karaoke, and dance shows are present throughout the week for all to enjoy.

One venue that is a long way off the Golden Mile is the brand new place for all non-Sydneysiders to shake a tail feather, Castro’s down in Wollongong.

It has an entertainment list that has consisted of Courtney Act, Tora Hymen, Hillary Eternity, Keren St James, Tess Tickle and Candy Boxx. And next Saturday, it will be yours truly. I’m about to go all Big Kev and say, I’m excited.

I actually grew up down south in Nowra. Slowly making the trek north, I landed in Wollongong first, to continue my tertiary studies. It was Wollongong that showed me my first gay club, Chequers, though it took me three years to muster the courage to enter the establishment.

You can image my surprise when I was met with the ever gorgeous Christy McNicol stripping down to a diamante G-string and pasties. From that very second, I knew the stage was for me.

I will be down at Castro’s with Candy Boxx in our special prom tribute, Perfect Match for Valentine’s Day, this Saturday night from 8pm. If you are up for a change in scenery or are a local, come along and have a gander.