Thank you for joining me for another episode
of YQG In Bloom. My name is Tracy Martens and
before I start my episode I wanted to thank Mark
Trudell over at the Walkerville Optical for my
lovely vinyl frames. They are made from an actual
record. It's insane and I'm obsessed with them
and thank you so much Mark and if you're in the
Windsor -Essex County area Call up, go online
to the Walkerville Optical, and book an appointment
and see him there. Now, today I have Venom Von
Snaps, drag queen extraordinaire. On for number
two. I'm back again. I'm so excited. I'm so glad
you let me out of the back room. It's been very,
very lonely for the last year back there, but
you did keep me fed. Yes, and you're looking
fabulous with your makeup. Love it. You've got
a whole new style going on this year. Thank you.
I was just trying to, you know, we try and elevate.
I'm noticing that your liner is matching your
wonderful new vinyl frames. Totally by accident.
No, she totally meant it. I wish this eyeliner
is over a year old. Oh, that's okay. All of my
makeup's expired. Same here, I don't wear it
enough. Oh, it's so nice to be back. Yeah, so
what have you been up to the last year? So I've
been working. We had like a changing career personally.
Transitioning has been going quite well. I think
we touched base on that last time. And I started
like a little house with me and my two sisters
Remedy and Angelina. and we've been doing like
public shows and some private shows. We have
a reoccurring show now that's actually taking
place at the Walkerville Brewery. Oh, that's
gonna be a reoccurring one. Yeah, it's been reoccurring
for, we've probably on our like fourth or fifth.
I haven't been out to that one yet. It's more
of like a, it's more of a family style show.
So it's called Transanity. and it's a benefit
for Trans Wellness Ontario, but it is designed
for families with queer children, or if you are
just like younger and part of the 2SLGBTQIA community,
you can come on out, you have a space to just
kind of hang out. All of the numbers are like
PG -13. We actually have some like younger performers
that are given that opportunity to work in this
space, which... It has been going really well.
It's had a very good reception. I've seen some
of the videos on Instagram that have come out
and the kids there are just adorable. They have
the time of their lives. And good! And it's really,
it's quite touching a little bit to see it because
like I'm a little bit close with one of the younger
kids. Her name is Yastrology. Yastrology. Working
on the name. She just reminds me a lot of myself
when I was younger, but if she had the opportunity
to have parents that really just kind of let
her do what she wanted to do. Oh, that's great.
And not to say that my parents really didn't
do that, they just didn't really know. Where
her parents are a little bit more in tune and
they were like, okay, you want to pretend that
it's 1999 and you're 14 years old and dressed
like you're a Y2K girl? Sure. and she's just
so authentically happy that every time I like
see her perform it like really warms my heart
and that's with a lot of these kids like they're
just they have the time of their lives and they're
so so grateful to have the space so I'm really
glad that we were able to create that for them
Remedy and Angelina both actually work for Trans
Wellness Ontario so they have been spearheading
this and then I was able to join the house together.
And it's just, it's been beautiful. It's been
a beautiful time. Is there a lot of kids that
are involved in the house? So it's really only
us main, like me, Angelina and Remedy are the
only ones in the house. But I mean, part of...
We will have, we have like, peppered interests,
if that makes sense. Okay, yeah. Like we have...
a couple of reoccurring ones that I think are
around like 17, 18 years old. We have like Gigi
Ride, we have Dyna Fire, love the name. I do.
Isn't that fun? That is. First time I read it
I was like, is your name really Dyna Fire? And
it's D -I -N -A, Fire. Isn't that cute? That
is. So they've been reoccurring but we've had
some like, we've had some other kids come in
and out and it's just, it's really fun, it's
really great. They have the time of their lives.
We do too, but we can really see with them. It's
a great time that we're in to be able to allow
the kids to be free to be who they are. Yeah,
especially with like where we kind of are today
and just like... The real world is the real world
and then the internet world I think really makes
it out to be like a much more scary place. It
is a scary place right now but the spaces do
exist and we really are trying to cultivate them
which is... turning out to be pretty good like
I just I'm pretty proud of everything that we've
done yeah and then we put on some adult shows
as well so these are adults only please don't
bring your kids we won't let them in the barbershop
triple xo is that one at the barbershop at the
barbershop so that one is like an all adult themed
show you get to really do whatever you want and
just like feel liberated and free I have some
of the most fun I've ever had and dragged at
those shows. I watch videos back and I can just
like see the joy on like people's faces and then
my own and I'm like wow you're having a great
time girl. And before anybody wants to get any
of their thoughts out there they're not sex shows
they're just Maybe a little costumes. I have
so many clothes on half the time Yeah, but I
mean they're enjoying you guys are having fun
doing adult dancing like we would at a bar It's
literally a bar It's a bar theme show where you
get to attend and people are dancing to songs
that are not PG -13 They're doing spoken word
numbers that have some curse words in them it's
just it's not vulgar we don't aim for vulgar
no like the house of cure it's so much fun it's
just fun it really is vulgarity is not the heart
of drag and a lot of people i think really take
that take that and they're like wow look at them
and i'm like no it's really not that vulgar half
of these Women and men are wearing an entire
couch worth of padding. Yeah, Madonna wore less
clothes than they did Yeah, so that's what I
mean like we're truly Leon's probably gets half
of our money just so we can cut up their couches
Like how are you finding nowadays in Windsor
in the last year is it more accepting To be frank,
unfortunately, due to, I think, the proximity
to where we are and the political climate right
now, I personally have experienced an uptick
in comments and aggressiveness, just like even
coming from shows, dealing with it outside of
shows, which is history, unfortunately, repeating
itself. So we try not to really focus on the
negative because As history has shown it really
comes in waves. So right now we're like down
here and we're gonna get back up there again
probably in three years when or if the Cheeto
dies I Don't I mean they will kill you those
Cheetos they'll kill ya. Yeah, it's just all
trans fats all fluff But you guys have new places
that you're doing your shows, so the businesses
seem to be more accepting and enjoying the shows.
So you actually had one of my favorite venues
that we work with, the Breakfast Guys. You had
Shivani on here. I was just there this morning
picking up breakfast. First of all, the food's
fantastic, but also Shivani and her husband are...
wonderful people. And if you've spoken to Shivani
even about it, like the events do well, and they're
just so they bring in such a different crowd
every time. So we really like to drive home the
fact that like, even though it is super politicized
right now, like the drag is usually good for
business. It is like we are able to usually bring
in a crowd of 30 to 60 to like 80 people depending
on the space. And those people want to buy whatever
is in that building. They want to buy your food,
they want to buy your wares, they want to buy
your couches. They are the best ones that are
supportive of community. Yeah, like these local
businesses just that we've worked with, like
I'm doing one with the goat. For Pride this year.
Oh. I'm doing like a drag brunch on August 3rd.
Which goat? The goat on Wyandotte. Okay. Which
is why I said yes. I'm taking a break come August.
Like I'm taking a full drag break. I've been
doing it for about five almost six years pretty
steadily and they reached out and because I had
not applied for pride I didn't do anything for
pride in Windsor this year uh like I did last
year. Yeah I noticed your name not up on there.
Yeah I just I didn't I didn't really apply because
I I'm going out east I'm going to see my family
and just take a nice break and then they were
like listen do you really we really want you
to do this brunch uh we thought you'd be great
for it and I was it's at the GOAT and I immediately
said I love the goat. The food's really good.
It really is. And they said that the food was
included with the booking, so I was like, okay,
I'm coming. You have to go. And then they said
what the pay was, and I was like, okay, but the
food's still gonna be there, right? Yeah. So,
that was, I was ready, so. We were just at the
goat on Malden Road last night. So good. But,
okay, drag. At a sports bar. Listen. That's iconic.
I have no idea what I'm gonna do yet. Maybe I'll
dress up like a blue jay. Or a tiger, whoever's
up. Or a tiger. That's the extent of my sports.
But like speaking of Windsor Pride Fest it is
being held in August of this year. Why do we
do it in August instead of in June? So I had
that same thought I was always like why are we
doing so so many different prides throughout
the summer and I really came to the conclusion
after like speaking to some other people and
asking that exact same question is that if we
did pride everywhere around the same weekends
of the same weekend there's only what three weekends
in June? Four? Yeah, so if we put every single
event in the week and the month of June, businesses
are going to miss out on the opportunity to participate.
There's Toronto Pride, which people will congregate
to, but they still want to be part of their local
pride, but of course they want to go to Toronto
and congregate with the country. it's really
just due to the fact that it's a time constraint
and people really want to be involved. That is
really really smart because yeah June I never
even thought of it. Yeah. The end of school so
people are getting ready for vacations. So like
exactly people just don't people want to do it
but the timing just isn't there. So yes like
June is pride month and we have that for a reason
but these local communities Windsor itself will
put them on in August because there is Pride's
going on in June and they just had one in July
in Sarnia, which I was at. So it gives everyone,
I think, the opportunity to actually spend time
with their community and for local businesses
to be able to make that time and have that space
to get out, especially if they are like a queer
business. Um, they're able to go to different
prides. Maybe they want maybe sarnia wants to
come to winzer Uh, but if we booked it on the
same weekend, we can't be two or two places at
once. Yeah, very very smart Yeah, so I think
I really think that that's the only reason why
because you do hear people are always like pride
month was in june And i'm like, yes it was and
it's gonna stay in june, but pride fest is in
august there you go And pride is year -round
it really is and it's and you know what it'll
stop being year -round when we have to stop Doing
this and unfortunately the way that things continue
we have to continue to be loud We have to keep
reminding people that were here and as as soon
as society has integrated us and treated queer
people with the the respect and have recognized
where we came from That's what I think it may
be able to calm down but unfortunately We're
down here, like earlier. So it's just gonna keep
doing this. So you're gonna keep getting it in
June. That's okay. Which is fine. I love June.
That's okay. Hey, have a both. The drag in the
summer is horrendous. I really wish that they
made like pride month. September. Yeah, but you
know what? They had to throw that brick in June.
Again, love that I'm taking a break. I know.
Oh my goodness. Like I've noticed I just can't
stop looking at your makeup because you have
Transitioned a lot makeup wise style wise in
this last year Just I don't get to see you that
often but seeing you on Instagram and all of
social media I've noticed a huge change in it's
beautiful. Thank you so much. Thank you. Yeah
It just it's really constantly evolving When
you're in transition Or you have people in your
life who are transitioning you're gonna notice
that they are like actively changing as the months
go by because you're basically going through
puberty again and That's what I'm doing like
I'm just I'm constantly like working and reinventing
so I can find a point where I'm just like really
happy With what I'm like presenting to the world
and like even watching my previous interview
back with you I was like we have some things
But the first step is realizing. Oh, hey. Because
some of you don't realize. I'm sorry. I can't
even do makeup like that. So, I mean, that's
an art form. It takes time and it really is.
Like, I'm constantly noticing that I need to
change things. I want to try new things. And
then also learning when to dial back so you're
not doing too much. Like the last time when I
wore an entire craft store worth of glitter on
my lid. I have no idea how I didn't go blind.
And the pink. And the pink, yeah. I was like,
this is a lot. Meanwhile, I was leaving the house
and I said, do you know what this needs? I need
to tie a feather boa around my waist. Hey, it's
always okay for a feather boa. Yeah, I know,
that's what I thought. Love feathers. So you,
as she said. You are transitioning now. How long
have you been transitioning for? So actively
for about about a year. I did have a little bit
of issue like finding like the correct medication
as you do with most things sometimes when you're
dealing with medication I had to find the right
fit for me. So I wasn't seeing results maybe
the way that other people would see results which
is something that you need to kind of And it
can be difficult to process sometimes when you
see other people who maybe stepped into the same
role as you at the same time, but they're transitioning
and their transition seems to be moving a lot
smoother for them. And for me, I just feel like
it's been a little bumpy, but that's life. That's
puberty. Not everybody does it at the same time.
No. We all move at different paces. Exactly.
Like, okay, you may not be getting the boobs
that you want, but the face is there. So, I mean,
that comes... Listen, if you have kids, you know
how expensive puberty is. You're buying new clothes
every, like, six months. I can't afford to do
that now. I can't afford to go up, like, a shirt
size every, like, six months. How are you enjoying
puberty so far? It's great. It's great. I love
every minute of it. No, it has been a beautiful
experience. I felt so much more comfortable.
It definitely feel like some clouds like separated
and I've been moving much more freely throughout
life and just feeling a lot more confident. Which
was so interesting because I was so nervous Yeah,
and I didn't realize how it was gonna make me
feel I am very lucky to To have the people in
my life that I do I have like a wonderful partner
who's extremely supportive I work for a fabulous
company that is also extremely supportive So
I do I do have those privileges right now that
I think make make it a little bit easier when
you have hard days But not a lot of people do
So when you're when you're meeting somebody who's
transitioning and they might not meet your expectation
of what somebody who is Transitioning looks like
you really have to take into account like the
day -to -day basis of what somebody is is dealing
with because it's oh my god It's completely life
-changing but again The clouds parted, so. And
those clouds were there for my entire human life.
So you're feeling more comfortable in your skin?
Oh my god, so much better. Good. So much better.
The real you's coming out. Yeah. Yeah, I just
feel really, I just feel happy. I feel confident.
I just, I feel like I, I know where I'm going
and kind of who I am when I think back to when
I was younger and I was constantly trying to
try new things to try and figure out like who
I was. Well that's hard enough as it is being
heterosexual yes and going through puberty and
trying to figure out who you are I couldn't even
imagine being in your shoes trying to figure
out who you are when nothing is fitting no right
no like when I was like when I identified and
I was known as like a cisgender person it was
definitely it was definitely a different experience
when I was just like trying to close trying to
hairstyles trying to see like what what emulated
me in the world, and I wasn't really finding
it. And I was like, what is going on? Like, all
these people, like, some people just like, their
identity evolves around their family, or it revolves
around their hobbies, around work. None of those
things I could really dive in. And I think it's
just because I wasn't, I hadn't figured out who
I was, so I couldn't focus. on that, the way
that other people could. And now I finally can.
Yeah? Yeah. Oh, that's good. Now, how do you
find that transitioning is affecting drag? Is
it making it better? It just, it does add a layer
of complexity because when I'm performing, I
don't want to really be recognized outside of...
Performing like I love the idea drag really fascinated
me because I love the idea of transformation
I love the idea that you can like You can highlight
and you can contour and you can build a look
to the point where you like people are like,
oh my god, that's you Whereas now when I'm transitioning
I'm just noticing That they're kind of intermingling
a bit and I'm trying to figure out how to separate
them So I'm still happy in both roles. Okay So
that's like another little journey that I've
had to take, because I was doing drag for four
years before I transitioned, so that was a big
change, big change. But it does help that I have
other clothes that I can fit into, like this
white bodysuit, this is Vanessa's. Well, Vanessa
has good taste too. Thanks, thanks. And then
I've noticed, like I said, pictures of you outside
of drag, and you have awesome hair. I was shocked
as I grew my hair out. Like the curls? Yeah,
my hair was short and straight my whole life.
I started growing it out and as soon as it hit
here, it just started coiling. And the first
time I got my hair done by a hairdresser, she
got her brush stuck in my hair. And she was like,
I'm so sorry I didn't realize your hair was so
curly. And I said, respectfully, it's so fine.
I didn't know either. That goes long enough.
You don't need a wig. No. No, though I do like
it though, because I really don't like dealing
with it. Yeah. With the long hair. Do you like
having short hair? No, that's why I'm growing
it. Are you growing it? Yeah. Yeah. Washing it
becomes a chore. That was the big one. I love
having long hair, but my god, I've really pushed
my wash days. I've figured out a way to make
it like five days. And people are like, your
hair looks beautiful. And I'm like, thank you.
It's five days old. I'd be lucky to get one day
in without it just going bleh. Yeah, it's just
a lot of dry shampoo. I've tried that. That's
the trick. Okay. You don't use it in the morning.
You go to bed, you put the dry shampoo in, and
then you wake up in the morning and then you
brush it out. Okay, because, yeah, I always did
it how everybody else did it. No, I sleep in
it. And you look like you have baby powder in
your hair. Yep. No, I sleep in it and then it
sucks up all the oils that I get with it. Because
that's when the oils come in. Yes. And then I
brush it out and I now have... I'm a little bit
like routine based, I've come to learn. So when
I'm brushing my hair, I'm like, and one and two
and three, and I'll like count to like 30 on
each side. And then I'm done. But it like makes
me feel like it's done. And then I finish brushing
it and I go, okay, there won't be a mat in that
tomorrow morning. Because sometimes I go to bed
with my hair wet. Don't do that. Oh, never do
that. It's very bad for your hair. No. Do what
they say. Unless I do, please. That is so true.
I made that mistake when I've had longer hair
and it's like wow Wow, yeah, it's not fun. We
have rats Just in my head. Oh, yeah a little
hole nested there. Oh My god, it is so nice to
see how Comfortable you are in your own skin
and how beautiful you you always were but there's
just Something in this transition that it was
meant to be Yeah, it really was. I hear that
from a lot of people. You'll notice that with
people that are transitioning. You really will.
It just really, it opens up. It opens up a part
of you you didn't know you had that was waiting
for its whole life. Well, and you got the beauty
even without all the drag makeup and your day
-to -day stuff when I've seen the pictures of
you when you're playing at work. Thanks. Thanks.
Hey, at least you get to play with a lot of makeup.
Oh, I do. But you know what? I do a million foundation
matches in the run of a week. Let me tell you.
Oh, my God. I'm like, oh, I'm looking at you
right now. I'm like, what undertone do we have
over here? Oh, we got the yellow. We got everything
going on. You're like a little bit neutral. We
got some pink. We got some golds in there. Oh,
yeah. Yeah, it changes. I have to have like three
or four different foundations. And I made the
mistake of going to Sephora and allowing them
because they said... The ones that I use for
the podcast are the thicker ones, and I can't
use soap and water to get them off. I need the
actual removers because they just stay on, which
is fabulous. That's why they're $84 a jar. If
anyone wonders why I work in cosmetics, it's
because I can't afford them if I didn't. It's
true, but she gave me this one that was kind
of see -through, and you could see the glittery
oil that you put on instead of the primer, and
you could see it go right through, and it's like,
ew. It was just like, okay, no. Just come see
me. Yeah. Just couldn't see me. I'll get you
covered. I know. I need some new stuff. And I
noticed this time you have on the strappy shoes.
I do. So would this be the drag shoe? This, well,
it kind of is a drag shoe, but this is like an
everyday shoe. Oh, okay. These little, these
little clear straps that I have on. Life -saving.
You can get them on like Amazon. No, so they
don't come on the shoe. They don't come these
I added Because I find that any shoe that doesn't
have a strap Will just pop off. Well, yeah, cuz
yeah, and then your toes end up like this because
you're oh, yeah You're literally like a cliffhanger
just like praying that you don't lose your shoe
while walking like in to get groceries Damn,
I wish they would have had those when I actually
liked wearing heels. Yeah, well I'm quite over
it now. I'm starting to develop like bone spurs
in my feet. I can't wait to take a break. So
how long are you taking a break for? I know all
of August. I think the majority of September.
I am doing like a Halloween show that I did last
year that I really enjoyed. So I can't wait for
that one. I'll be doing a Christmas show. So
September is probably when I'll wrap it up. That's
good. But we'll see. Listen, if the goat reaches
out... Well, you're going. I'm going. Yeah, we've
got a bunch of different goats. You could offer
me money, but you have to offer me food. Damn,
I would do it at McDonald's. I'm sorry. I'm a
whore for food. Okay, so your first drag show
can be at the McDonald's downtown. Hey, that
would be a pretty much right fit for me. What
can I say? Hey, who wants to see a 55 year old
grandma trotting around for a Mcdouble? Well,
I mean, I feel like I have seen it at the McDonald's
downtown, so And they'll they'll do it for free.
They will. Oh my god. Well, I did want to ask
you one thing about Drag, yeah, where did that
originate? Do you know cuz I've looked it up
and I have found so many different answers. You're
gonna get a lot of answers so I have a really
like my drag like my drag brother Hudson Bay
who's local to Windsor who's like the own the
original drag king within the last like five
or six years okay is extremely educated on this
topic so if you really wanted to go like deep
into that Hudson would be the best person to
ask now there is like There is some documentation
that it started. Oh my goodness around like the
40s I believe with like William Dorsey Swan Who
was a performer and there's also history of it
being done in the military Just to kind of add
some some life back in but like It's been documented
throughout history forever. Yeah, but that's
the same as being like like trans identities
have been documented Back to like the 16 1700s.
Yeah, because i've seen it through burlesque
and through Just all over the place vaudeville
It really has been If it's not drag it was something
else very close to it very close to it um the
performance and like the the playing with with
gender roles has been around for as long as people
have really been around. As soon as we had to
stop, like, lighting fires and fighting for our
lives from saber -toothed tigers and we got homes,
I'm pretty sure is when people were probably
like, should I put the dress on? Oh, come on,
let's put it this way. Back then, they were wearing
loincloths. That's a dress. That's it. That's
a mini skirt. You're right. You know what? They
were probably doing Sierra's one -two step. There
you go. Just for the saber -toothed tigers. So
glad that you were back on here today. I appreciate
it so much. Thank you for having me back It was
just nice to like check back in after a year
and kind of go over what's been going on within
Windsor And definitely speak on just like drag
and how it and you you work with so many small
businesses And I really just wanted to make make
it so well known that like yeah drag can benefit
a small business and I feel like this was the
perfect place to talk about that. Because I think
the businesses kind of need it right now in the
state of the economy. I think so too. And we
need it right now. So if you've ever wanted to
book a drag brunch, you wanted to have a drag
show, you wanted somebody, we don't need to dance,
we can do a bingo. We do - You add the - Breakfast
guys, you did, wasn't it Arts and Crafts or something?
We did, I did like an Arts and Crafts paint night.
Yeah. So like it's really, we can put together
really any idea that you have for your space.
and bring the people in that you want to have
in, your regulars, you know your spaces as businesses,
and we're just here to support you as performers.
Same as if you have a cabaret singer in a restaurant
at nighttime. Same as if you hire a band to perform
in a bar. We're just here to entertain, make
people smile, make people laugh, let people go
home and be like, wow, did you have fun? I'm
so glad I seen you. It was such a nice night
we went to. Did you expect those people to be
there? No, I didn't either. Oh, hey. So definitely
small businesses, no matter what it is, it doesn't
have to be a bar. It doesn't have to be a restaurant.
It could be just a regular store in the Windsor
-Essex County area. I'll perform at the grocery
store. Well, I mean, we can do craft night. Yeah,
I'll teach you how to put together a good list.
There you go. I'll walk you through all the aisles.
I'll tell you where to get your oats, how to
sew them. Do makeup. Yeah. Tutorials. Makeup
tutorials from a drag queen. That's exactly.
You could do anything. If you were going to put
on like... If you want to put on a girl's night
and just figure out how to do winged liner, hire
a drag queen. My god. Half of our eyes are like
this big or either this big and we use no liner
or all of the liner. And the makeup, I'm sorry,
we need to learn the winged. I'm looking at hers
and it's coming in and out underneath. I poke
myself in the eye trying to do that. It's taking
time. Let me tell you. It's taking many poked
eyes. But now I can help you. So definitely small
business Windsor -Essex County area reach out
to venom reach out to any of the drag queens
They would be happy to have a show. Yes, or a
brunch. It doesn't have to be anything It should
she's fun and we will do whatever you need whatever
you need. We're here to help you We're here to
help community drag is community And drags money
we can make you money girl. Yeah, so and all
of the drags, their group, everybody that will
follow and come are huge supporters of community
of all kinds. You can find our little trio. There
might be a fourth one coming. Hudson's banging
on the windows to get in. got a king and with
the queen. Yeah so just you can follow us at
House of Cures online if you really want to like
have our little community that we've built advertised
for your business. Okay. And we're here to we're
here to support we're here to support Windsor
-Essex County if you're here to support us. And
we are here to support you. Oh, we love you.
Thank you so much. It was so nice to see you.
You too. And we got to get together soon because
I need some help. It's OK. Listen, we'll teach
you how to do wing liner. I'll only poke out
one eye. That's OK. I have the other. OK. And
again, my name is Tracy Martens. And thank you
so much for joining me for this latest episode
of YQG and Bloom podcast. And make sure to check
out Instagram and YouTube, TikTok. Facebook for
all of the events that we are going to be having
through Drag Month in August. And you can find
me at Venom Von Snaps on Instagram, on Facebook,
and that's about it because I don't use much.
Okay, you need to do TikTok then for tutorials.
I'm trying so hard. Listen, I know I look like
I know what I'm doing, but I don't know how to
use a cell phone. Okay, well, we're going to
learn how to use a cell phone for her. Next episode,
we learn how to use a cell phone. There you go.
Okay. Have a good one. Bye bye.